3 Positives & Negatives from Olympiacos’ 2-0 win against Volos: Star transfer struggles, problematic defence steps up, advantage wasted | OneFootball

at Panthessaliko Stadium.

Here’s a breakdown of three positive and three negative aspects of their victory.

Negative 1: Lack of Impact from Velde

winger struggled to make an impact, failing to deliver any key passes or crosses and not

registering a single shot on target.

Moreover, he lost possession 11 times, which disrupted the flow of Olympiacos' attacks. His

substitution in the 71st minute was a clear indication that Mendilibar expects more from the

Norwegian as the season progresses.

Positive 1: Gelson Martins Shines with Two Assists

On the flip side, Gelson Martins delivered an outstanding performance, proving to be the

creative force behind Olympiacos’ victory. His two assists were a testament to his vision and

precision.

Martins set up Rodinei for the opening goal with a perfect cross and later threaded a superb

pass to Giorgos Masouras for the second. His form will be crucial for Olympiacos this

Negative 2: Missed Opportunities Despite Numerical Advantage

After Volos’ Lucas Villafanez was sent off in the 32nd minute, Olympiacos had a significant

numerical advantage for the majority of the match. However, they struggled to fully capitalize on

this, with the game lacking urgency and flow at times.

The team’s inability to break down Volos’ defense more effectively, despite having more

possession and a man advantage, is something that Mendilibar will need to address as they

face tougher opponents in the coming weeks.

Positive 2: Santiago Hezze’s Commanding Presence

Santiago Hezze stood out in midfield, showing his quality from the get-go. The Argentine

midfielder was instrumental in controlling the tempo of the game, completing 8 out of 11 long

passes, winning 9 out of 11 duels, and contributing a key pass. His ability to dictate play and

break up opposition attacks will be vital for Olympiacos as they aim to reclaim the league title.

Negative 3: Pre-season Rust Evident in the Team’s Rhythm

At various points in the match, Olympiacos’ play was sluggish, with moments that felt more like

pre-season than a competitive league game. The lack of fluidity and sharpness in their play,

especially in the final third, suggests that the team is still shaking off the rust and finding their

rhythm.

Positive 3: A Strong Defensive Display

Despite the occasional lapses in attack, Olympiacos can take pride in their solid defensive

performance. The backline, anchored by Rodinei and Lorenzo Pirola, managed to keep Volos at bay,

limiting them to very few clear-cut chances.

The clean sheet will give the team confidence as they move forward, knowing that their defense

can hold strong even when the attack is not firing on all cylinders.

Olympiacos’ 2-0 win over Volos was a solid start to the season, but it showed there’s still work

to be done.

Gelson was on fire, and Hezze bossed the midfield, giving fans plenty to be

excited about. Still, they’ll need to keep up their intensity and fine-tune their attacking game if