Olympiakos vs. Atletico Madrid: Key Issues That Will Shape Champions League Game
The Greek champions reached the final 16 of the competition last season and were unfortunate not to go further.
They beat Manchester United 2-0 at the Karaiskakis Stadium, but a Robin van Persie hat-trick overturned the deficit at Old Trafford in the return leg.
Spanish coach Michel is fully aware of the risk posed by Atletico having played for arch-rivals Real for 20 years in his playing career.
For Los Rojiblancos, they will be aiming to go one better and win the tournament.
Diego Simeone's side were just two minutes away from winning the Champions League in Lisbon, and they will know a repeat run this year will be difficult but far from impossible.
Michel V Diego Simeone
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The two managers have previously met just twice in the technical area, although they did meet on the pitch a few times.
Michel's Sevilla held Atletico to a 1-1 draw shortly after he arrived at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
The next occasion wasn't as even with Simeone's team thrashing Sevilla, 4-0.
In that match, Sevilla had three players sent off, starting a run of seven red cards in five matches.
The two teams will play out a physical contest, but maintaining discipline is essential.
Former La Liga Players' Familiarity
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As you would expect with a Spanish manager, Michel signs players that are not only fellow compatriots but have also spent time in La Liga.
Goalkeeper Roberto was in the academy at the Vicente Calderon, but he failed to establish a first-team position.
The club signed him back in 2013, although he left for Greece shortly afterwards.
Centre-back Alberto Botia was with Michel in Andalusia, and David Fuster is a former Villarreal attacking midfielder.
Winger Ibrahim Afellay and defender Eric Abidal makes it three former Barcelona personnel, including Botia.
Argentinian Alejandro Dominguez spent time at both Valencia and Rayo Vallecano.
All of these players will know what to expect from their opponents, and they will be hoping that the familiarity plays in their favour.
Set Pieces
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The delivery of Gabi and Koke from set pieces is an essential weapon in Atleti's armoury.
They both clock up numerous assists due to their dead-ball capabilities.
As I mention in this article for FourFourTwo, Atletico are extremely dangerous in the air, and most of the squad is more than adept in heading the ball.
New signings Mario Mandzukic, Raul Jimenez and Antoine Griezmann have added even more strength to this area.
Olympiakos scored in all but one of their eight Champions League matches last season, and two of the goals came through corners.
They also contain plenty of aerial ability in Pajtim Kasami, Abidal and Botia.
Fuster and Dominguez are among those that can provide the crosses from such situations.
The Wide Players
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Both teams contain players that can cause considerable damage from the wings, albeit in slightly different ways.
Michel tends to use a 4-2-3-1 system with the three attacking players behind the lone striker interchanging.
Afellay has a point to prove after Barca loaned him out for another season, although in fairness, his time at the Camp Nou has been littered with injuries.
Atletico's French winger Griezmann and Arda Turan arrived as second-half substitutes to change the Madrid derby when they provided pace and directness to the side.
It was Simeone's plan to contain Los Blancos before that with attacking midfielders Koke and Raul Garcia used out wide in a narrow 4-4-2.
With the two players rested, they are likely to start this match and line up in a similar formation to that of their challengers.
Olympiakos, like Atletico, prefer to counter-attack the opposition and are more than happy to concede possession.
This game could be more about who doesn't want the majority of the ball rather than who does.
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