The incredible journey of the Youth of Olympiacos in Europe and the UEFA Youth League ended in the best possible way, with the “red-and-white” young footballers lifting the trophy and becoming European champions! The Piraeus team won 3–0 at the tournament’s final in Nyon, Switzerland, where the Youth League Final Four took place and Olympiacos reached the finals, climbing to the top of the tournament.
Olympiacos entered the Youth League as the Greek Super League U19 champion for the 2022–23 season, and initially took part in the champions’ path of the competition. In the first phase they faced the Italian champion, Lecce, eliminating them with a total score of 6–2, as Olympiacos won at Renti 3–1 and 1–3 on the road. Then, Olympiacos beat Kampala 0–3 in Azerbaijan and 4–0 in “G. Karaiskakis,” and another easy draw came along.
In the playoffs phase of the competition, the “red-and-whites” faced Inter in a knockout match at “G. Karaiskakis,” with a 0–0 score during regular time, qualifying for the “16” of the Youth League in the penalty shootout. The Piraeus team also played against Lens in “G. Karaiskakis” and, despite the fact that they were lagging behind with 0–2, they finally tied and got the qualification again during the penalty shootout in a single game!
For the “8” of the competition, Olympiacos played away against Bayern Munich in Germany, winning 1–3 with a great appearance, and getting the ticket to the Final Four!
In the final phase of the Youth League, Olympiacos faced Nantes in the semi-final. The match, which stayed at 0-0 in regular time and on penalties, won 3–1, with Cina taking a French penalty.
The Legend was the Boss at the final as well!
The day of the grand final in the UEFA Youth League has arrived! Olympiacos was there and did not, of course, fail to present their well-known best selves and earn the title to become European champion!
The “red-and-whites” made an inspiring appearance against Milan, who had eliminated Porto in the Final Four’s other semifinal.
In just the 3’ Olympiacos made a threat, when Ch. Kostoulas stole the ball in the centre, passing to Pnevmonidis who made a side-foot kick, but the goalkeeper of the Italian team kicked it out. In the 9’ Olympiacos had a great opportunity to pass the ball to Papakanellos who proceeded with a side-foot kick at the height of the big area, with the ball barely going out.
Following another nice cooperation between the “red-and-whites” in the 38’, Pnevmonidis passed to Bakoulas, onto Koutsogoulas, who passed back to Bakoulas, who was at the penalty level making a side-foot kick which was weak and blocked by Milan’s goalkeeper.
The goals came pouring down
In the second half, despite the fact that Milan tried to threaten and claim the match, they did not achieve much. They made a threat in the 53’ with Scotti’s shot outside the area, but Cena kicked it out in a corner.
A little later Olympiacos overwhelmed us.
In the 56’ C. Kostoulas took the header in the area and Salmac made a hand ball. The phase was checked in the 58’ by VAR and the penalty was awarded, taken in the 60’ by Mouzakitis, who formed the 1–0!
Just one minute later, Papakanellos remembered the wonderful goal he scored against Bayern Munich in Germany, and following some nice individual play from the right inside the area, he made a great side-foot kick, sending the ball to the net to create the 2–0!
The 3–0 was just around the corner and even more impressive. Perhaps the most beautiful goal in the competition was the one Bakoulas scored. Specifically, in the 67’, Koutsogoulas made the cross and Bakoulas formed the final result in the Youth League final with an overhead scissor kick!
Milan kept having good opportunities, however, Sina was there yet again. In the 71’ Sia made a side-foot kick through the area and Sina drove it away in a corner, while blocking Sala’s attempts with a double intervention. The last good moment of the race was at 81’, when Ch. Kostoulas peddled through the area and kicked out the goalkeeper of the Italians.
Thus, the 3–0 remained and Olympiacos won the European Championship, the UEFA Youth League for the 2023–24 season!
OLYMPIACOS (S. Silaidopoulos): Sina, Prekates, Koutsidis, K. Kostoulas, Alafakis (72′ Dama), Mouzakitis, Bakoulas (88′ Tanoulis), Koutsogoulas, Pnevmonidis (88′ Gatopoulos), Papakanellos (75′ Liatsikouras), Ch. Kostoulas.
Milan (I. Abate): Raveyre, Magni, Simic, Nsiala (69′ Liberali), Bartesghi, Stalmach (62′ Simmelhack), Malaspina, Zeroli, Scotti, Sia (78′ Sala), Camarda (79′ Bonomi).
