Sports
Porto Faces Olympiacos in Crucial Europa League Clash
PORTO, Portugal — Porto and Olympiacos will face off in a pivotal Europa League match at the Estadio do Dragao on Thursday, January 23, 2025, as both teams vie for a spot in the last 16. The match comes at a critical juncture for Porto, who are reeling from three consecutive domestic defeats and the recent sacking of their head coach.
Porto, currently 18th in the Europa League standings, are under interim management following the dismissal of Vítor Bruno on Monday. Bruno’s departure came after a string of poor results, including a 3-1 loss to Gil Vicente in the Primeira Liga. Despite their struggles, Porto have a strong home record in European competitions, remaining unbeaten in their last six matches at the Estadio do Dragao.
Olympiacos, sitting 15th in the standings, enter the match in formidable form. The Greek side is on a 16-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, including four consecutive wins in the Greek Super League. Their recent 2-1 victory over Atromitos showcased their resilience, with goals from key players securing the win.
Porto will be without several key players due to injuries, including Martim Fernandes and Iván Marcano. However, Pepê, who was sidelined under Bruno, has returned to training and could feature. Olympiacos, meanwhile, will miss midfielder Santiago Hezze due to suspension, but Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi, who has scored 17 goals this season, is expected to lead the attack.
Historically, Porto have dominated this fixture at home, winning three of their last four encounters against Olympiacos. However, the Greek side’s current form and defensive solidity—they have drawn their last three Europa League matches 0-0—suggest a tightly contested match.
Predicted lineups see Porto fielding Costa in goal, supported by a midfield trio of Varela, Eustaquio, and Pepe. Olympiacos are likely to start Tzolakis in goal, with El Kaabi spearheading the attack. Both teams will be eager to secure a win to bolster their chances of advancing in the competition.
With Porto’s home advantage and Olympiacos’ unbeaten streak, the match promises to be a thrilling encounter. A narrow victory for Porto is predicted, with both teams likely to find the net in a high-stakes clash.