In a less than eye-catching performance by the Greek Champions, Olympiacos CFP edged past Atromitos FC 2-0 at the Giorgos Karaiskakis Stadium on Sunday. Matt Derbyshire’s first half strike put the hosts in front and a late tally by Konstantinos Mitroglou iced the result for the Piraeus giants who moved level with PAOK FC at the Super League summit ahead of tonight’s later game between Panathinaikos FC and Panionios GSS.
The port-city side was keen on redemption after a disappointing display against FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. While manager Bozidar Bandovic may not have envisioned such a scrappy affair, in which few chances were created by the Erythrolefki, the result keeps Olympiacos on pace with their rivals at the top of the table.
Lomana Lua Lua showed the same energy that made him Olympiacos’ biggest threat against Bordeaux midweek, but unfortunately for the Congolese hit-man his final touch continued to lack any conviction.
Olympiacos war nearly punished for their lack of fruitfulness in front of goal, as at the other end Antonis Nikopolidis was forced into two spectacular saves to keep his goal pure. Managing to swat away efforts from Emmanuel Perrone, Nikopolidis produced the unlikeliest of saves to deny the visitors of a surprise lead.
The Greek shot-stopper was rewarded for his work between the posts at the opposite end of the pitch as Matt Derbyshire tapped home the easiest of finished after a centering pass form Jesus Datolo.
Lua Lua remained Olympiacos’ most-active member going forward and the former Newcastle United FC forward had two fine opportunities to score. His first chance was a curled effort that had just a little too much bend on it as it curled just wide of the goalpost.
His second effort came much closer as an effort off a corner-kick was ricocheted off the upright, which eventually fell gently for Jaouad Zairi who skied the effort up and over the crossbar.
Action in the second half was more choppy as a physical encounter took shape at Karaiskaki. The worst news of the day came when Datolo pulled up with what appears to be a calf strain as the Argentine, who was in control of the ball as he sped down the left flank, looked in serious agony as he clutched his right calf.
While the Argentine winger forced Olympiacos to play with ten-men in the dying moments, stirker Konstantinos Mitroglou made up for a prior missed opportunity which dinged the post as he slotted an easy finish into an empty Atromitos goal.
