Olympiakos will make its final bid for the knockout stage today at 2:45 p.m. ET when they host UEFA Champions League Group C doormat Anderlecht at Karaiskaki Stadium in Athens, Greece. Live stream the match by clicking this link.
Olympiakos is currently knotted with Benfica in the standings, but Benfica has a much more difficult matchup today with Paris Saint-Germain than the Greek side does. All Olympiakos must do to advance is tie with Benfica, as they own a tiebreaker. They will need to do it without star player, Kostas Mitroglou, who hurt his knee against PSG.
Mitroglou has scored 21 goals this year, including three in Champions League play. Olympiakos beat Asteras Tripolis this weekend, and wants to carry the momentum into today's match, but coach Michel is adamant they'll need to improve their performance. While not pleased with his side's previous effort, he's not making changes to the lineup.
"My selection on the weekend was not so much a matter of looking for freshness as looking for success and continuity. But I was disappointed with how many times we lost the ball when we had possession.
"It is true maybe we did have our minds on Tuesday, especially as it is a competition that has the eyes of the world on it and that can effect players. But on Tuesday we will need to be fresher, faster, more aggressive and end as winners."
Anderlecht is winless in the group stage, and has been outscored 14-3 in five matches. This will mark the seventh last-place finish in the Champions League for Anderlecht, and haven't won a road match in group play since 2005-2006. Olympiakos has won eight of their last 11 home matchups in the group stage.
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