The Return of the Prodigal Son: Daniel Podence Comes Home — and Lights Up Karaiskakis | OneFootball

Eurokinissi | Giorgos Matthaios

On his (second!) return to the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Daniel Podence reminded us exactly why we fell in love with him. Olympiacos’ little superman returned to a sold-out Karaiskakis, stepped onto the pitch against Panserraikos, and within a heartbeat curled in a golazo from distance before coolly laying on an assist. One minute he was a roar; the next he was a reminder: football is romance, and some love stories are meant to find their way home.

“I’m back.”

The script felt almost too perfect. Podence entered to a swell of camera lights and goosebumps, found a pocket nearly 30 yards out, and launched a trademark curler into the far corner. Badge kiss. Arms wide. The entire stadium on its feet. If you tried to storyboard the “prodigal son” arc for film, you’d be accused of laying it on too thick. Yet there it was — pure, unscripted football theatre.

And it didn’t end at the goal. The second act was vintage Podence as creator: a dart between the lines, the disguise on the release, and the through-ball that invited Mehdi Taremi to finish. By the final whistle he’d supplied both the nostalgia and the end product. Not a cameo; a statement.

The vibe shift is real

Olympiacos didn’t merely beat Panserraikos; they overwhelmed them. Before the red and white shirts started stacking goals late, the performance already hinted at something deeper: depth, variety, and menace coming from everywhere. Fans have grumbled about sterile horseshoe possession and 50+ hopeful crosses. This version of Olympiacos can still go wide, but now there’s incision through the middle when it matters — especially when Podence is on the grass.

He changes the geometry. Defenders step toward him because they have to, which opens cut-backs, third-man runs, and that cheeky slip-pass he loves. Pair that with strikers like Taremi and El Kaabi — elite in timing, balance and economy — and you suddenly have synchronized chaos: one attracts pressure, the other ghosts into the space it leaves behind.

What Podence gives this squad (beyond the goosebumps)

The supporting cast — and why it matters for Dani

You could feel the left-side snap into focus whenever the ball zipped through midfield early. A left-footer like Mouzakitis in the engine room accelerates play to that channel, and when Ortega is allowed to roam forward whether it's overlapping or underlapping, the overloads become lethal. Podence thrives when teammates take brave angles around him; the more we see that freedom — timed, not reckless — the more he’ll tilt matches on cue.

Up front, the competition is delicious. El Kaabi’s volume, Taremi’s efficiency, Yaremchuk’s power when he’s back — for Podence it means constant, intelligent movement to feed. Give him runners and he’ll keep the scoreboard moving.

Emotion meets expectation

Let’s be honest: many of us carried a flicker of doubt about “reheated meals.” We’ve lived the returns that never quite hit. But Dani’s homecoming felt different because the intention was clear. This wasn’t a lap of honour; it was a line in the sand. He said he’s here to stay and to write new chapters in Europe, not just sign old pages with a flourish.

What comes next

The margin for error in the league phase of the Champions League is razor-thin. Nights like this against Panserraikos can’t become comfort blankets; they must be launchpads. If Mendilibar keeps the central combinations brave (and keeps Podence’s minutes rising in stride with fitness), Olympiacos will carry a real threat into Europe — not just with width and volume, but with craft and cold-blooded finishing.

For now, savour the feeling. The prodigal son walked back into our house and turned the lights up. One goal, one assist, and a thousand hearts reminded of why they fell for this club — not just for the trophies, but for moments that make you believe football still has poetry left in it.