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Olympiacos
Europa League | League Stage
Nov 7, 2024 at 5.45pm UK
Stadio Georgios Karaiskaki
Rangers logo

Olympiacos
1 - 1
Rangers

El Kaabi (56')
Carmo (66'), Kostoulas (88')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Dessers (64')
Jefte (69'), Hamza (87'), Raskin (90+5')

Preview: Olympiacos vs. Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Olympiacos and Rangers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Together on six points in the Europa League standings, last year's Conference League champions Olympiacos and Glasgow giants Rangers will lock horns on Thursday evening.

Both teams are just outside the automatic qualifying spots with three games played in the league phase - but both are performing below par on the domestic scene.


Match preview

Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiacos, October 2024© Imago

Writing his name in club history, Spanish coach Jose Luis Mendilibar arrived mid-season in the 2023-24 campaign and promptly led Olympiacos to Conference League glory, securing a step-up to UEFA's second-tier tournament this season.

En route to their final triumph over Fiorentina, the goals of Ayoub El Kaabi proved crucial, and the Moroccan striker has already made quite an impact in the Europa League, scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Braga before bagging the winner last time out.

His first-half strike against Malmo helped the Greek side claim a vital away victory late last month, taking them to within one point of the all-important top eight.

Olympiacos - who lost their opener 2-0 in Lyon - will now aim to make it three in a row when they meet Rangers, following back-to-back wins on the domestic front.

Just after knocking Athens Kallithea out of the Greek Cup, Mendilibar's men beat Panserraikos 2-1 in the Super League, with El Kaabi on target again; they are still fourth in the table, though, having lost twice so far.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement on October 24, 2024© Imago

While Olympiacos have won both previous home games against Scottish clubs - beating Dunfermline in 1968, and Rangers' arch-rivals Celtic six years later - history will not be on the visitors' side.

Rangers have yet to win in four visits to Greece and, all told, have won just one of eight meetings with Greek teams to date, so they will be up against precedent on Thursday.

Defying a dismal start to the Scottish Premiership season, the Light Blues have fared well enough in this term's Europa League, though: last time out, they thumped FCSB 4-0 at Ibrox, with Vaclav Cerny bagging a brace.

Philippe Clement's side also beat Malmo in Sweden, before suffering a 4-1 defeat to Lyon, so the outcome of trips to Piraeus and then Nice could prove decisive in their quest for a place in the last 16.

In the league, they have lost three of five away games so far, and it seemed last Sunday's League Cup semi-final meeting with Motherwell would go against them too; however, they quelled a chorus of boos by turning a one-goal deficit around after half time.

Cyriel Dessers and Nedim Bajrami struck during the second half at Hampden, meaning Rangers will defend their trophy against Old Firm foes Celtic next month - and, for now, under-fire Clement remains in charge.

Olympiacos Europa League form:


Olympiacos form (all competitions):
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W


Rangers Europa League form:


Rangers form (all competitions):



Team News

Olympiacos manager Jose Luis Mendilibar holds the Conference League trophy before his side's pre-season game against Nottingham Forest on August 8, 2024© Imago

Olympiacos have been plagued by a number of injuries this season, with high-profile signings Willian and Yusuf Yazici both consigned to the sidelines of late.

The former will not be available until January, while the latter is out for the rest of the campaign after suffering an ACL injury on his debut.

In better news for Jose Luis Mendilibar, Italian defender Lorenzo Pirola has returned from a layoff, while the improved form of Kristoffer Velde - who has just recorded three goal contributions in as many matches - should take some pressure off lone striker Ayoub El Kaabi.

Meanwhile, Rangers were able to welcome back a key player at the weekend, as Czech winger Vaclav Cerny started at Hampden, though fellow wide man Ross McCausland is a doubt for Thursday's game.

They will certainly be without Tom Lawrence, as the influential midfielder is expected to be out of action for up to six weeks.

Brazilian striker Danilo made a brief cameo from the bench against Motherwell but is not registered for UEFA competition; while Ridvan Yilmaz and Rabbi Matondo are both back in training, Oscar Cortes is still on the treatment table.


Olympiacos possible starting lineup:
Tzolakis; Rodinei, Retsos, Carmo, Costinha; Hezze, Garcia; Martins, Chiquinho, Velde; El Kaabi

Rangers possible starting lineup:
Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte; Barron, Raskin; Cerny, Bajrami, Diomande; Dessers


SM words green background

We say: Olympiacos 2-0 Rangers

As Olympiacos are unbeaten at home, and Rangers are rarely at their best away from Ibrox, the hosts should prevail in this Europa League contest.

Blessed with a more potent attack - plus a tried and tested formula in Europe - the Greek giants are set to stride closer to the knockout phase.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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How you voted: Olympiacos vs Rangers

Olympiacos
75.5%
Draw
12.6%
Rangers
11.9%
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Rangers manager Philippe Clement on October 24, 2024
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TeamPWDLPTS
1Lazio541013
2Frankfurt541013
3Anderlecht532011
4Galatasaray532011
5Lyon531110
6Rangers531110
7Ajax531110
8Spurs531110
9FCSB531110
10Ferencvaros53029
11Man Utd52309
12Plzen52309
13Olympiacos52218
14Fenerbahce52218
15Bodo/Glimt52127
16Real Sociedad52127
17AZ52127
18Midtjylland52127
19Braga52127
20Roma51316
21Besiktas52036
22Porto51225
23Union SG51225
24Hoffenheim51225
25Slavia Prague51134
26PAOK51134
27Elfsborg51134
28Malmo51043
29FC Twente50323
30M. Tel Aviv51043
31Qarabag51043
32Ludogorets50232
33RFS50232
34Nice50232
35Athletic Club00000
36Dynamo Kiev50050


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