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November 5 2024, 18:21 · Alex Lawes
Updated: November 5 2024, 20:18

Olympiakos vs Rangers Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Europa League | League Phase

Olympiakos vs Rangers Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Europa League | League Phase
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The 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League winners Olympiakos have once again underperformed at the start of their Greek Super League campaign as they now welcome Rangers to Piraeus this week. 

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 7th November, 2024 - UK – 5:45pm / US ET – 12:45pm / US PT – 9:45am

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – CBS Sports

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

OLYMPIAKOS PREVIEW: JUST ONE DEFEAT

As mentioned, Olympiakos won the UEFA Europa Conference League last season and Jose Luis Mendilibar remains in charge of Thrylos. They currently sit fourth in the Greek Super League table behind the likes of Aris Thessaloniki, PAOK Salonika and AEK Athens but have started well in the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League campaign.

They began their UEFA Europa League season with a 2-0 defeat to Olympique Lyonnais at Parc OL in their opening game in mid-to-late-September. That was followed up by a 3-0 hammering of Braga last month. Their most recent European outing saw them edge past Malmo by a goal to nil with a winner from Ayoub El Kaabi. 

RANGERS PREVIEW: UNDERWHELMING ‘GERS

Former Monaco boss Philippe Clement is under immense pressure as Rangers boss with the Bears languishing in third place in the Scottish Premiership, nine points behind Celtic and Aberdeen at the top-of-the-table after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen at Pittodrie in their most recent outing in the league last week.

They did come from behind to defeat Motherwell in the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup at the weekend. In the UEFA Europa League, Rangers have been hammered by the aforementioned Lyon but have enjoyed victories either side of that defeat against Malmo and FCSB.

OLYMPIAKOS TEAM NEWS: SEVERAL ABSENTEES

Olympiakos have a squad chock full of recognisable faces and experienced players but the Greeks are dealing with several injury absentees for this one.

Lorenzo Pirola is one of those sidelined through injury for this week alongside the likes of Marko Stamenic, Willian, Yusuf Yazici and Francisco Ortega. 

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Tzolakis; Rodinei, Retsos, Carmo, Costinha; Hezze, Mouzakitis; Martins, Chiquinho, Velde; El Kaabi

UNAVAILABLE: Pirola (Injured), Bakoulas (Injured), Stamenic (Injured), Yazici (Injured), Willian (Injured), Ortega (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: 

RANGERS TEAM NEWS: RANEGRS INJURIES

Philippe Clement appears confused about how he wants his Rangers side to play and which players he wants to use within his Rangers side at the moment.

They have several injury concerns for this weekend’s trip to just by the Greek capital as Ridvan Yilmaz is sidelined alongside both Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo. 

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte; Barron, Raskin; Cerny, Lawrence, Bajrami; Dessers

UNAVAILABLE: Yilmaz (Injured), Matondo (Injured), Cortes (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: 

KEY STATS

  • The last time Olympiacos faced a Scottish club in a UEFA competition was in the 1974/75 European Cup first round when they progressed with a 3-1 aggregate victory against Celtic (1-1 a, 2-0 h).
  • Olympiacos have won two and drawn one of their last three UEFA competition matches against Scottish teams.
  • Olympiacos have won ten of their last 13 UEFA competition matches (L3).
  • Olympiacos have won six of their last UEFA competition matches at home (L1).
  • Olympiacos have kept four clean sheets in their last five UEFA competition matches.
  • Ayoub El Kaabi has scored 15 goals in his last 13 UEFA competition appearances.
  • Rangers have lost only two of their last 13 UEFA Europa League group/league phase matches (W7 D4).
  • Rangers have won their last two UEFA Europa League group/league phase matches away from home.
  • Rangers have lost only two of their last 12 UEFA Europa League group/league phase matches away from home (W4 D6).
  • Rangers have drawn their last three UEFA competition matches away from home against Greek teams.
  • Rangers have won only one of their previous eight UEFA competition matches against Greek teams (D4 L3).

OLYMPIAKOS VS RANGERS PREDICTION

Olympiakos will pile the pressure on against Rangers and they have shown themselves to be very difficult to play against in both home and away conditions in European competition. Rangers have benefitted from poor opposition in Malmo and FCSB to get six points on the board thus far but any side with relevant competence or remote quality should be able to see off what appears a rabble at the moment. 

OLYMPIAKOS VS RANGERS TIP: OLYMPIAKOS TO WIN