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Olympiacos
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 4, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Dinamo Zagreb

2-1

Pardo (65', 90')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Hodzic (21')
Pivaric (79')

Live Commentary: Olympiacos 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage Olympiacos's 2-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb in Group F of the Champions League.
2

Olympiacos came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb in Group F in the Champions League.

Armin Hodzic opened the scoring in the first half, but Felipe Pardo came off the bench in the final half hour to score a brace.

The visitors finished a man short as Josip Pivoric was dismissed with just over 10 minutes remaining after picking up a second booking.

Read how all the action unfolded below.


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Good evening! Olympiacos and Dinamo Zagreb will both be hoping to strengthen their chances of progressing to the knockout stages of the Champions League with victory in Greece this evening. The team news is already out, so let's take a look at the lineups.

OLYMPIACOS STARTING XI: Roberto, Botia, Elabdellaoui, Siovas, Masuaku, Milivojevic, Fortounis, Kasami, Hernani, Seba, Ideye

DINAMO ZAGREB STARTING XI: Eduardo, Matel, Taravel, Antolic, Macado, Santos, Pivaric, Rog, Fernandes, Hodzic, Pjaca

OLYMPIACOS SUBSTITUTES: Kapino, Da Costa, Salino, Cambiasso, Finnbogason, Pulido, Pardo

DINAMO ZAGREB SUBSTITUTES: Jezina, Sigali, Musa, Pavicic, Coric, Henriquez

Having beaten Dinamo Zagreb just two weeks ago, Olympiacos make just one change to the starting lineup from that match, with Gernandi coming in for Felipe Pardo, who is on the bench. Brown Ideye netted the only goal in Zagreb, so continues up front, but Esteban Cambiasso returns on the bench, having been ruled out with a knock last time out.

Meanwhile, the visitors have made just one change from their 1-0 defeat last time out in this competition, as El Arbi Hillel Soudani misses out with an injury, leaving Marko Pjaca to come in up front.

Ahead of this match, Olympiacos coach Marco Silva told reporters: "As I've said on other occasions, I don't believe tomorrow's match will be decisive regarding the outcome of the group. The final game will be the decisive one. Of course, a win will improve our chances of going through, but this won't be the decisive match. In Zagreb, we did very well against a team who were unbeaten at home for 50 games. That shows how impressive our achievement was. They are very strong and dangerous on the counterattack. We have to inflict more damage on them than they do on us."

Dinamo Zagreb coach Zoran Mamic said at his pre-match press conference: "We expect a great game in front of a passionate crowd. We played well in the first match in Zagreb and we believe tomorrow we will play even better – despite the partisan atmosphere. Our relative inexperience could be a cause for concern, but it may also act as motivation. We expect Olympiacos to be aggressive but we are prepared for this. We know who Olympiacos are and we will do the best we can. Unfortunately, we have injuries but we have found solutions to replace the missing players."

Both of these two sides had similar results in their opening two fixtures, beating Arsenal and losing to Bayern Munich. There was little to separate the side sides when they met a couple of weeks ago.

Bayern and Arsenal meet elsewhere in the group this evening. Should the German champions be beaten by the Gunners, and Zagreb defeat Olympiacos, then all four sides in Group F will have six points from their first four fixtures.

The players emerge from the tunnel to a packed crowd at the Karaiskakis Stadium, who are certainly making themselves heard as kickoff approaches.

PREDICTION! With the action just a couple of minutes away, there's just time for a quick prediction. Olympiacos have already beaten their opponents, and have the advantage of playing on home soil this evening, so I'm going for a 2-0 week for the hosts.

KICKOFF! The home side get the match underway.

The visitors are just trying to keep possession and settle any nerves in the opening couple of minutes, before Armin Hodzic tries to make a break down the left. The home side eventually get the ball back, but Fourounis losing out on the edge of the area. The referee seems happy to let a couple of physical challenges go unpunished as well, as it should be a nice flowing game.

CHANCE! The first chance of the match falls to the home side as Konstantinos Fortounis steps around Machado before unleashing a low drive, which is a fraction wide of the right upright.

The home side are really starting to pile on the pressure as Masuaku makes a charge down the left before crossing in, with Ideye and Hernani arriving in the centre, but Taravel is the first to get to it, and he clears the danger.

CHANCE! Hernandi tries to create a chance for himself after bursting forward, rounding a defender before curling his finish straight at Eduardo, despite having Elabdellaoui arriving to his left.

BOOKING! The referee was lenient in the opening couple of minutes, but Marco Rog has tested his patience too much, picking up a yellow card for a challenge on Hernani.

CHANCE! Olympiacos are so close to an opening goal as Masuaku floats in a perfect cross for Hernani, but the winger's header to the opposite corner is just high. The keeper was absolutely rooted to the spot - had that been on target, it would have been a goal.

PENALTY APPEAL! The home side shout for a penalty as Pivaric appears to handle the ball while trying to stop Brown Ideye getting a shot away from the edge of the area, but the referee waves play on, and looking at the replays it was the right decision, with the ball coming off his back.

GOAL! Olympiacos 0-1 Dinamo Zagreb (Armin Hodzic)

The visitors have had to be patient, but they make the most of a counter-attacking move with Pivaric getting past Siovas to set up Hodzic for a header at the near post, and the striker times his jump to perfection to nod it past Roberto. Clinical stuff from the Croatian side.

The home side immediately pile back down the other end attempting to get back on level terms, but Siovas heads the ball wide from a free kick.

Olympiacos are showing a bit more urgency now that they're behind, forcing a corner, but Fortounis's delivery is headed behind by Milivojevic, allowing the visiting side to boot the ball away.

BOOKING! Another Zagreb player goes in the book as Pivaric clatters into Kasami.

There are worrying scenes for the visitors as goal-scorer Hodzic appears to have picked up a knock, but it looks like he's just winded. He gingerly makes his way to the sideline for a breather, but it would be a surprise if he's not back on in a few moments.

Hodzic does indeed return, but it's as Elabdellaoui and Hernani are making their way down the right for the home side. The former is forced to put the ball out though, while Fortounis tries to find a gap on the opposite flank, before being hacked down by Antolic, giving the hosts a free kick in a dangerous position.

The home side's supporters groan as the ball is played into the box from the free kick, but the referee is a little slow to read the direction of the delivery, and inadvertently clears it.

CHANCE! Olympiacos continue to pile forward as they try to get the goal back, with Seba, who has been quiet so far, playing the ball through towards Ideye, but the former West Brom striker is a little slow to arrive, leaving it to go behind for a goal kick.

CHANCE! Seba is finally starting to have an impact as he gets on the end of a through-ball from Hernani, but the striker's effort is turned behind for Eduardo.

The home side force another free kick as they desperately try to level the scores before half time, but Eduardo is swiftly off his line to punch Hernandi's delivery away.

Matel turns a floating ball in behind as the first half heads into a minute of stoppage time. Seba is waiting on the edge of the area to try to thump it home, but he catches the ball wrong, curling it wide.

HALF TIME: Olympiacos 0-1 Dinamo Zagreb

So, it's the visitors who lead at the interval thanks to a fantastic header from Armin Hodzic. The home side have certainly had their chances, but some sloppy finishing and a couple of saves from Eduardo have prevented them from getting back on level terms so far.

The hosts have had a little more possession than their opponents with 52%, but have had seven shots to just two from Zagreb. Both of Zagreb's efforts have been on target though, while Eduardo had only been tested twice by the hosts.

Here's a look at the visitors as they celebrated taking the lead midway through the opening 45 minutes:
Dinamo Zagreb's forward from Bosnia-Herzegovina Armin Hodzic (2-R) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match between Olympiacos and Dinamo Zagreb at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium in Athens on November 4, 20© Getty Images

The other match in Group F hasn't been so closely matches so far, with Bayern Munich opening up a 3-0 lead over Arsenal. As things stand, that would leave the German side top, with Zagreb and Olympiacos tied on six points each.

The players are making their way back out ready for the start of the second half.

RESTART! The second half is underway in Greece.

CHANCE! The home side are on the charge from the kickoff as Ideye heads a high ball into the box down for Kasami, but the midfielder's finish is just high.

Olympiacos are keeping the pressure on in the early stages of the second half as Fortounis forces a corner, delivering the ball back in towards Seba, but Taravel just gets there first.

SUB! Alberto Botia appears to have picked up a knock while trying to get involved during the corner, so Manuel da Costa comes on in his place.

PENALTY TO OLYMPIACOS!

BOOKING! Gonzalo Santos goes in the book for bringing down Brown Ideye in the penalty area.

PENALTY SAVED! Konstantinos Fortounis buries his head in his hands as Eduardo guesses which way he's going, parrying the ball back to the midfielder, who can only fire the rebound over. What a huge let-off for the visitors.

SUB! The visitors are making their first change, with Hodzic, who has been struggling with a rib injury, is replaced by Angelo Henriquez.

It's still Olympiacos who are enjoying the majority of the possession, but the missed penalty has really damaged the atmosphere, with the crowd much quieter since Eduardo's save. Milijovic manages to break though, but his finish misses the target, while a free kick from Fortounis is easily cleared by the visitors.

Ideye and Hernani try to get forward again, with the latter getting the ball on the edge of the six-yard box, but his first touch is poor, leaving it to go behind for a goal kick.

SUB! Hernani hasn't really been at his best this evening, so he's making way for Felipe Pardo.

GOAL! Olympiacos 1-1 Dinamo Zagreb (Felipe Pardo)

Felipe Pardo gets his first touch since coming off the bench for the home side, and it ends up in the back of the net for Olympiacos. Ideye controls is ball into the middle, sliding it out wide for Pardo, who tucks it neatly into the corner. What an impact from the substitute.

Zagreb try to get the lead back down the other end, and manage to force their first corner of the match, but it's quickly cleared by Siovas.

BOOKING! Paulo Machado makes a late challenge on Fortounis, earning himself a booking.

Olympiacos look much more confident since getting back on level terms, but the visitors are defending well to make sure Eduardo isn't put under too much pressure in the visiting goal. As things stand, the win will leave Olympiacos second in the group, two points behind leaders Bayern.

Despite the home side looking the dominant side, they do still appear vulnerable to the counter-attack, as a long ball out from the back almost drops to Rog, who would have been through on goal had his first touch been better. The Greek side need to be careful as they press for the winner.

Seba and Kassami pass the ball around on the edge of the box, trying to set up Ideye for a potential winner. They can't get the shot away, but Pivaric has to knock it behind for a corner, leaving Santos to clear. The Zagreb back four have been kept busy this evening, but they're working well.

RED CARD! Josip Pivaric

Having already been booked, Josip Pivaric pulls Felipe Pardo down by his shirt, leaving the visitors a man short for the final 10 minutes or so.

SUB! The visitors make a change as Leonardo Sigali comes on for Leonardo Marko Pajac.

SUB! The home side also make a change, with Alfred Finnabogason taking over from Pajtim Kasami.

Pardo is on the charge again, but tries a bit hard to keep the ball away from Rog, giving away the free kick. He gets a talking to from the referee as well, but avoids a booking.

Seba tries to cross the ball in for Ideye, who loses his footing as he powers into the box, but Matel puts it behind for a corner. The delivery back in isn't great though, allowing Zagreb to survive again.

SUB! The visiting side make their final change, with Junior Fernandes, who has worked hard throughout, coming off to be replaced by Mario Musa.

GOAL! Olympiacos 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb (Felipe Pardo)

Pardo has surely just sealed the win for the visitors with his second goal of the match, having only come on in the 64th minute. Fortounis lobs the ball forward, leaving the midfielder to power the ball in the bottom corner at the first time of asking.

The visitors have just three minutes of stoppage time to try to rescue something.

Rog has shown plenty of counter-attacking intent in this second half, and he tries to charge at the Olympiacos goal again, but Da Costa gets back to block his path.

FULL TIME: Olympiacos 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb

So, a brace off the bench from Felipe Pardo ensures that Olympiacos come from behind to beat Dinamo Zagreb, leaving them in a strong position in Group F heading into the final two matches of the campaign.

With Bayern Munich thrashing Arsenal in Germany, the Bundesliga champions sit at the top of Group F, level on points with Olympiacos, with both sides six points clear of Zagreb and Arsenal. A draw in Munich later this month will be enough to send both sides through to the knockout stage.

Well, that's all from this match, but stick around to read about all of tonight's Champions League results, and join us again tomorrow for the latest round of fixtures in the Europa League. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.

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