Olympiacos Fall Short Despite Spirited Second-Leg Win Over Bodo/Glimt | OneFootball

For 70 minutes, the Karaiskakis Stadium buzzed with the belief that Olympiacos could achieve the improbable. A 3-0 deficit from the first leg in Norway had left Jose Luis Mendilibar's side with a mountain to climb — using both sides' performances this season, we calculated their chances of overturning the deficit at a meagre 1.66%. But for large stretches of the second leg, Olympiacos defied those odds. A 2-1 win on the night wasn't enough to complete the comeback, but it was a statement performance nonetheless.

The task was clear from the outset: score early, sustain pressure, and avoid conceding. Mendilibar’s tactical setup reflected that urgency — Olympiacos pressed high, overloaded the wings, and sought to create chaos in Bodo/Glimt’s defensive third. Yet, it was the visitors who struck first. A well-placed cross from Jens Peter Hauge found Kasper Hogh in the 29th minute, whose near-post header left Konstantinos Tzolakis stranded. Conceding that away goal left Olympiacos needing five to advance — an already improbable task veering toward the impossible. But this team — galvanised by last season’s Europa Conference League triumph — refused to fold. Mendilibar’s decisive changes at halftime swung the momentum sharply in their favour.

Christos Mouzakitis and Roman Yaremchuk were introduced at the break, and within minutes, the duo combined to give Olympiacos life. In the 54th minute, Mouzakitis threaded a perfectly weighted ball into Yaremchuk’s path, who finished with precision to make it 1-1.

Suddenly, the energy in the stadium shifted. Olympiacos played with a fearless, almost reckless urgency. That was followed just minutes later by a missed penalty for Olympiacos, after Rodinei's spot kick was saved by Nikita Khaikin. Just two minutes later though, Mouzakitis proved to be the catalyst once again, driving forward from midfield before slipping Yaremchuk through on goal. The Ukrainian's finish was clinical — 2-1 Olympiacos — and the impossible felt momentarily within reach. However, that was not to be as Thrylos failed to score any more goals.

Statistically, Olympiacos dominated both legs — 42 shots to Bodo's 11, 4.18 xG versus 1.91, and 100 open play attacks compared to just 24 for the Norwegians. Over the two matches, Olympiacos generated nearly double the post-shot expected goals (3.94 to 2.78). On another night — with better finishing or different tactical decisions — this might have been a comfortable progression.

Captain Panagiotis Retsos was immense at the back, recovering possession seven times and stepping into midfield with composure. His versatility even saw him finish the match as an emergency goalkeeper after Tzolakis's late red card.

Olympiacos bow out of the Europa League, but this was no collapse. The fight, the energy, and the tactical structure were all positives. Mendilibar’s side now shift their focus to reclaiming the Greek Super League title and preparing for a potential Champions League return next season. If they carry the same spirit into those fixtures, they’ll be a force once more on the European stage.