Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 (2-1 on agg.) Olympiacos
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the quarter finals of the Europa League after a hard fought victory over Olympiakos.
The Greece champions dominated for long periods of the game but Wolves stood firm after a first half penalty converted by top scorer Raul Jimenez gave them a half time lead. Olympiakos were denied an equaliser by a tight VAR call and then both goalkeepers were in fine form to stop any further goals.
The Europa League 2020 betting odds back Wolves as one of five teams with a realistic chance of winning the trophy, and they’re still in the hunt, but Olympiakos gave them quite a scare.
Highlights of the game
Wolves were in the hunt for a Champions League spot for much of the Premier League season, falling away in the last couple of weeks, and this competition gave them a second bite of the cherry. And they had the perfect start when Daniel Podence made a run into the penalty area and was brought down by Olympiakos keeper Bobby Allain.
As the Greek defence protested their goalie’s innocence the referee pointed to the spot and Wolves had a penalty. Striker Raul Jimenez has been the subject of transfer speculation after another impressive season at Molineux, and he showed just why, coolly firing the spot kick into the bottom right corner and giving Allain no chance.
Olympiakos stormed the Greek Superleague this season, winning the title with a huge 18 point margin over PAOK Salonica and they were not about to lie down here. Giorgos Masouras came close with a header from a Mo Camara cross, and then he teed up Konstantinos Tsimikas to force a good save from Rui Patricio as his shot arrowed towards the bottom corner.
Jimenez was busy at the other end, playing in Ruben Neves, but his shot was blocked, and then Wolves were rocking when Youssef El Arabi seemingly sprung the offside trap and cut the ball back across the penalty area for Mo Camara to fire home, with the help of a deflection off Willy Boly. The Greeks celebrated, but then came the tension as VAR took a long, long look, before eventually ruling that El Arabi was marginally offside.
Olympiakos came again, and were close when El Arabi’s peach of a cross was almost turned into the net by Pape Abou Cissse at the back post, but Wolves survived. And then Patricio was at his best to save a shot from Giorgos Masouras which was destined for the top right corner.
Ruben Neves had a shot saved by Allain on the cusp of half time as Wolves went in to the break with a slender lead.
The Greece champions weren’t about to give up without a fight and they came close, on 55 minutes, after a sweeping move saw Omar Elabdellaoui cross for El Arabi who looked like he was about to head home, but Boly did just enough to put the striker off. Wolves responded and Neves had a shot blocked as the home side began to have more possession. And then a Jimenez flick set Podence free to unleash a fierce shot which Allain saved with his fingertips.
Wolves continued to live dangerously as El Arabi beat Conor Coady but dragged his shot wide, and then Patricio saved a header from Ahmed Hassan low to his left. As the game became stretched Allain saved again from Podence, and that was the Portuguese winger’s last action of the night, apart from being booked when he took an age being substituted, which keeps him out of the quarter final.
With ten minutes remaining Allain kept the visitors in the game with a brave save when Diogo Jota picked up a weak back pass and had just the goalie to beat, but Allain stood firm and kept the ball out. And then his opposite number Patricio produced a great save to keep out a header from Hassan, and Wolves were home and dry.
Key statistics
Wolves started brightly and went ahead on just eight minutes, but they seemed to flag as the first half went on. Olympiakos dominated possession with 65 per cent of the ball and the shot count was close, six to five in Wolves’ favour with both sides having two attempts on target.
The Greek side continued to battle hard and won the final shot count by 16 to 12 and five to four on target, but Patricio kept them out.
What’s next?
It’s been a slog of a season for Wolves and it showed tonight, but they live to fight another day.
Next up they meet Sevilla in the quarter finals and, of course, here at SBOBET we’ll be right there with all the latest Europa League 2020 updates and results as they happen.
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