Olympiacos FROZEN with Heavy Loss in Norway | OneFootball

Bodo/Glimt vs Olympiacos - Europa League Round of 16, 1st Leg: Giorgos Matthaios/EUROKINISSI

Olympiacos endured a tough night in Norway, falling 3-0 to Bodø/Glimt in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 clash. José Luis Mendilibar’s side were second best from start to finish, as a combination of defensive errors, missed chances, and poor decision-making left them with a steep hill to climb in the second leg in Piraeus. While the players did their coach no favours, the controversial astroturf pitch and Mendilibar's refusal to adjust tactics to his environment proved costly for the Red & Whites.

The game started disastrously for Olympiacos, with the hosts taking the lead early on after an unlucky deflection off the head of Konstantinos Tzolakis. A corner kick that saw Giulian Biancone barely manage to jump ahead of his mark ended in Tzolakis's blocking a shot into the crossbar that then deflected back into his head and in the goal. The second goal followed soon after, with Rodinei at fault this time, allowing Bodø/Glimt to capitalise on a sloppy back pass. The Norwegian side added a third goal in the second half, as Olympiacos’s defense completely switched off, allowing the home side to put the tie in a commanding position.

Mendilibar’s team selection raised eyebrows before kickoff, with both Costinha and Lorenzo Pirola left out of the starting XI, weakening the defensive structure. Costinha came off the bench in the second half and was one of the few bright spots for Olympiacos, providing energy and solidity at right back. However, by the time the changes were made, the damage had already been done as all three goals had been conceded before the 60th minute.

Olympiacos did create chances, with both Gelson Martins and Roman Yaremchuk spurning golden opportunities to get on the scoresheet. The absence of top scorer Ayoub El Kaabi — who has netted almost all of Olympiacos’s goals in the Europa League this season — was clearly felt, as the team lacked a clinical edge in front of goal.

To make matters worse, poor refereeing decisions added to Olympiacos’s frustration. Yaremchuk appeared to be fouled inside the box after Olympiacos were down by only one goal, which should have resulted in a penalty and possibly a red card for the Bodø/Glimt defender — but the referee waved play on.

Despite the disappointing result, Olympiacos fans should remember last season’s remarkable comeback in the UEFA Conference League. After losing 4-1 at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Round of 16 first leg, Olympiacos overturned the deficit to advance and eventually went on to win the competition — despite having just a 0.01% chance to lift the trophy after that first-leg defeat.

Now, Olympiacos face a similarly daunting task, with just a 7% chance to advance to the next round. But if there’s one thing this team has shown, it’s that they thrive under pressure. The second leg at the Karaiskakis Stadium will provide an opportunity for redemption — and Olympiacos know that in European football, anything is possible.