Champions League Power Rankings: PSG shine in matchweek 1
By James Dudko
29. Olympiakos
Trips to Greece are usually among the trickiest in the Champions League. Yet it was plain sailing for Sporting Lisbon, who raced into a 3-0 lead against Olympiakos in Athens.
The hosts offered no resistance as the visitors played through them with ease on the break. It was disturbing to see just how vulnerable Olympiakos were defensively.
Sporting’s decision to rest start striker Bas Dost only made such vulnerability at the back look worse. Not even two late, late goals from Felipe Pardo to make the scoreline a more respectable 3-2, excused Olympiakos.
Nobody would mistake the Greek giants for a potential winner at the start of the tournament. But this is still a club with a more-than solid track record of participation in Europe’s premier club tournament.
A side this experienced should be showing more know-how, particularly at home. This is a game Olympiakos would have expected to win. Frankly, it was one the Greeks had to win, with tougher tests against Barcelona and Juventus lying ahead in Group D.
Failing those tests seems inevitable after the way Olympiakos started their Champions League campaign.