Tuesday September 18, 2012 Group Stage: Group B Finished Stadio Karaiskaki

Olympiacos 1 - 2 Schalke 04

  • Abdoun 58’
  • Höwedes 41’
  • Huntelaar 59’

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  1. Huntelaar seals Schalke win

    Huntelaar seals Schalke win

    Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored the winner as Schalke began their Champions League campaign with an important 2-1 win away at Olympiacos. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Olympiacos
    • Schalke 04
    • 90+5 That's it from Stadio Karaiskaki. Great win for the visitors.
    • 90+4' Rafik Djebbour almost steals a point from an impossible angle but his effort following good work down the left flies past the post.
    • 90+1 Holtby plays a corner short as the assistant referee indicates four minutes of added time.
    • 89' Sub for the visitors. Marco Höger for Jermaine Jones
    • 87' Schalke doing a great job at just keeping the ball here. And it looks like they'lll see this one out.
    • 85' The hosts are still looking to get something from this but are lacking creativity there with balls being pumped hopefully forward.
    • 83' Lars Unnerstall is in the book for time wasting.
    • 81' Just on, Afellay looks to find Huntelaar at the back post but it is too clsoe to the keeper.
    • 80' Ibrahim Afellay for Tranquillo Barnetta for the visitors.
    • 78' The hosts building some pressure now. Djebbour attempts an over-head kick but the referee blows for a high foot. The effort was well wide.
    • 76' Farfan's free-kick from the left is poor - it doesn't even beat the first man.
    • 74' Jones goes down under the challenge of Ariel Ibagaza and he is in the book.
    • 73' Ariel Ibagaza dictating things now and another switch of play brings the hosts forward but the chance is gone as the resulting cross is out for a goal kick.
    • 71' Much, much more open half this. End to end. Holtby's cross is cleared after another quick break.
    • 69' Barnetta works some space down the left, cuts inside and finds Farfan. His effort is always rising.
    • 67' Ibagaza with a a beaut but his effort from just inside the 18 yard box clips the top of the net.
    • 65' The visitors are running the midfield and that is why they are dominant.
    • - Ariel Ibagaza came on for the hosts in amongst that melee of goals and incidents. Fuster off.
    • 62' This game has well and truly come to life here.
    • 61' Incredible. Huntelaar hits the post from the penalty.
    • 60' WOW. This game has come to life. Manolas fouls Barnetta inside the box. Penalty. Definite.
    • 59' Incredible. Holtby slips the ball to Huntelaar inside the box, who fires home in off the post. 2-1.
    • 58' GOAAAL!! Djebbour latches onto a ball over the top but a last ditch tackle from a visiting defender denies him but Abdoun follows up to level it up.
    • 57' Double clearance from the visitors. Matip with a loose header. And Abdoun is on to it. He rounds the keeper but Matip clears it. Then Fuchs clears the follow up. Schalke at all over the place at the back.
    • 56' Schalke are having the better of it here now – particularly down the right. Farfan having the run of that side of the pitch.
    • 54' Gilt edged is the term. Fuchs’ shot can only be parried by Megyeri and Barnetta, following up, skies it from under the bar. Should be two.
    • 52' The game is again being played at a rather laboured pace.
    • 50' Farfan clips the ball into Barnetta but his shot on the turn is blocked.
    • 48' Olympiacos are putting the pressure on now.
    • 46' We're underway in the second half.
    • 45+1 And that's it from the first half.
    • 45' One minute of added time.
    • 44' Looking at it again, the marking at the corner was poor. The hosts go up the other end but Torossidis’ cross drifts wide.
    • 42' Schalke are a different team here. So much urgency.
    • 41' GOOOOAL!! From the corner Höwedes escapes his marker at the near post and plants his header past Megyeri from the edge of the six yard box. Poor marking there, great header and justice prevails.
    • 39' Schalke look fired up now and Farfan turns his man and draws a save from Megyeri. Corner.
    • 39' Incredible decision.
    • 38' Pandemonium. Höwedes knicks the ball from Maniatis, works a yard and then crosses. An Olympiacos boot clears it – or half clears it, as it kicks up into the air – and Papadopoulos rises above Megyeri but doesn’t touch him and heads into the goal. Inexplicably the referee disallows the goal.
    • 36' Farfan wins a corner and delivers a beauty. Papadopoulos’ attempted header is half blocked and the cleared. Throw in.
    • 35' Schalke give away another free-kick and the count is totting up. The more worrying aspect is the vicinity of these kicks - they're getting closer and closer to the 18 yard box. It is a decent free-kick from Machado but it is well defended by the visitors just on the edge of their own six-yard box.
    • 33' Fuchs loses the ball but gets away with it. Abdoun just can't get to it and it runs out for a goal-kick having charged it down.
    • 32' Schalke lose patience and go long. Too much on it and it carries through to Megyeri.
    • 31' The visitors knocking the ball around their back four as Olympiacos give them time and space.
    • 30' Grief. Höwedes is right through the back of Machado there and that is the first yellow of the evening. Deserved.
    • 29' Looks like these two are sizing each other up. They’re both more concerned with not conceding than scoring at the moment.
    • 28' Holebas heads Fuchs testing back post cross clear for a corner. Farfan’s driven delivery doesn’t clear the near post.
    • 27' Olympiacos have not conceded more than one goal in their last 13 home games in the Champions League and the way this one is going at the moment you can't see that changing.
    • 25' Abdoun works the channel well, turning this way and that before his cross has too much on it. Story of the half thus far.
    • 23' Djebbour leads a break but with colleagues better placed left and right he elects to go alone allowing Matip to make a timely intervention. The corner is played into the near post and Djebbour comes off his man but heads wide.
    • 21' Farfan finds Holtby out wide on the right, the youngster cuts in and with boos aplenty ringing in his ears has an effort blocked.
    • 20' Very cagey here. Holtby loses it but then Olympiacos return the favour.
    • 19' Matip’s errant challenge gives away a free-kick in a dangerous area just outside the box. It is firmly hit by Holebas but it goes wide.
    • 17' Huntelaar finds some space in the box but his header lacks direction. Half a chance there. Despite his outstanding goal scoring record, he has never scored in a Champions League away fixture.
    • 16' The visitors have probably had more of the ball but the hosts are carving out the better opportunities. Jardim’s teams are renowned for sitting deep and then hitting teams quickly on the break. Working thus far here.
    • 15' Torossidis’ cross is a hair’s breadth from Djebbour’s head. Fantastic cross from deep there appeared to take the Schalke back four by surprise.
    • 14' Got to say the visitors are frustrating their hosts but the crowd reaction anytime they move forward is incredible. Intense atmosphere out there.
    • 13' Farfan makes himself a little space down the right but his cross is too close to Megyeri.
    • 12' Holtby pushes up to make it a more traditional 4-4-2 when the visitors are in possession but then immediately drops back into midfield when they lose it.
    • 11' A rather cagey opening ten minutes has just about been edged by the visitors.
    • 10' Maniatis clips one to the back post but it is easily cleared.
    • 9' Some rather robust challenges flying in at the moment, which is disrupting the flow of this one.
    • 7' Matip looks for Huntelaar in behind again but the ball doesn’t have the required accuracy.
    • 6' We have a slight hiatus for an injury to a Olympiacos player following a coming together with Jones.
    • 5' First bit of concerted possession from the hosts. Torossidis cuts in from the right, spots a gaping hole in the Schalke defence, plays in Machado, who beats Unnerstall with a little chip but Papadopoulos is there to clear.
    • 3' Huntelaar makes a break in behind the home defence, receives the ball and turns to cross. It is blocked for a corner. Megyeri punches the resulting corner clear but this is a smart start from the visitors.
    • 2' The visitors work the ball forward through midfield with one touch the order of the day until Holtby is caught unaware by a cute back heel and, stretching, lofts the ball into the arms of Megyeri.
    • 1' David Fernández Borbalán gets this one underway. Schalke get this one started and we’re off to an almost deafening din from the home faithful.
    • - The teams are gathering in the tunnel – and we’re moments from kick-off.
    • 19:40 Like his counterpart Jardim, Stevens has lost key personnel over the summer. Chief of which was the departure of Raul Gonzalez to Al Sadd in Qatar, but the signing of Ibrahim Afellay should go someone to reducing the goal burden on Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
    • 19:35 Following the resignation of Ralf Rangnick in September last year, former coach Huub Stevens, who presided over the club's 1997 UEFA Cup victory, returned to the club, steadied the ship and ensured a return to Champions League football with a third place finish.
    • 19:30 Jardim, 38, favours a solid base with an emphasis on counter-attacking. That solid base, though, has been critically undermined by the loss of Olof Mellberg to Villarreal CF, and Avraam Papadopoulos, who suffered a long-term injury at Euro 2012.
    • 19:25 A little bit of background to both sides journey to this year's Champions League. Greek champions Olympiacos begin their 47th European campaign and 14th appearance in the Champions League under the stewardship of Leonardo Jardim, who arrived in the summer from Braga.
    • 19:20 For Schalke, Ralf Faehrmann is on the bench with Lars Unnerstall continuing in goal having kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Greuther Fuerth last time out. Peruvian winger Jefferson Farfan returns to the first XI having been rested.
    • 19:15 Giannis Maniatis has recovered from a calf injury sustained on international duty and starts for the Greeks. Pedro Contreras has also recovered from a groin injury and captain Vassilis Torosidis is back after being rested for the 2-1 win against PAS Giannina FC over the weekend.
    • 19:10 TEAMS: Olympiacos: Megyeri, Contreras, Holebas, Manolas, Torosidis, Maniatis, Modesto, Machado, Abdoun, Djebbour, Fuster. Subs: Carroll, Ibagaza, Fejsa, Siovas, Greco, Mitroglou, Diogo. /// Schalke: Unnerstall, Howedes, Papadopoulos, Fuchs, Matip, Holtby, Jones, Barnetta, Neustaedter, Farfan, Huntelaar. Subs: Faehrmann, Uchida, Afellay, Hoeger, Draxler, Kolasinac, Pukki.
    • 19:05 Leonardo Jardim: "Usually when we play at home, we get the result we want, but we are up against a very strong side so we have got to keep our focus. Schalke have good players, but we have faith in our own team."
    • 19:00 Huub Stevens: "We have spent long enough revelling in this Champions League qualification, but we have to put that behind us now. Now things are finally getting under way and we are looking forward to our group, which is very challenging."
    • 18:55 This will be the first competitive encounter between these sides in a group that also contains Arsenal and Montpellier. Despite both sides being unbeaten domestically coming into this tie, their respective coaches have tried to play down expectations in what is a competitive group line-up.
    • 18:50 The referee for tonight's fixture is David Fernández Borbalán of Spain. We will have team news for you very shortly.
    • 18:45 Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage from Group B of the UEFA Champions League, where Olympiacos welcome Schalke 04 to the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus.

  • Summary

    • 90+4' Rafik Djebbour almost steals a point from an impossible angle but his effort following good work down the left flies past the post.
    • 81' Just on, Afellay looks to find Huntelaar at the back post but it is too clsoe to the keeper.
    • 78' The hosts building some pressure now. Djebbour attempts an over-head kick but the referee blows for a high foot. The effort was well wide.
    • 61' Incredible. Huntelaar hits the post from the penalty.
    • 60' WOW. This game has come to life. Manolas fouls Barnetta inside the box. Penalty. Definite.
    • 59' Incredible. Holtby slips the ball to Huntelaar inside the box, who fires home in off the post. 2-1.
    • 58' GOAAAL!! Djebbour latches onto a ball over the top but a last ditch tackle from a visiting defender denies him but Abdoun follows up to level it up.
    • 54' Gilt edged is the term. Fuchs’ shot can only be parried by Megyeri and Barnetta, following up, skies it from under the bar. Should be two.
    • 41' GOOOOAL!! From the corner Höwedes escapes his marker at the near post and plants his header past Megyeri from the edge of the six yard box. Poor marking there, great header and justice prevails.
    • 38' Pandemonium. Höwedes knicks the ball from Maniatis, works a yard and then crosses. An Olympiacos boot clears it – or half clears it, as it kicks up into the air – and Papadopoulos rises above Megyeri but doesn’t touch him and heads into the goal. Inexplicably the referee disallows the goal.
    • 23' Djebbour leads a break but with colleagues better placed left and right he elects to go alone allowing Matip to make a timely intervention. The corner is played into the near post and Djebbour comes off his man but heads wide.
    • 17' Huntelaar finds some space in the box but his header lacks direction. Half a chance there. Despite his outstanding goal scoring record, he has never scored in a Champions League away fixture.
    • 15' Torossidis’ cross is a hair’s breadth from Djebbour’s head. Fantastic cross from deep there appeared to take the Schalke back four by surprise.
    • 5' First bit of concerted possession from the hosts. Torossidis cuts in from the right, spots a gaping hole in the Schalke defence, plays in Machado, who beats Unnerstall with a little chip but Papadopoulos is there to clear.
    • 19:10 TEAMS: Olympiacos: Megyeri, Contreras, Holebas, Manolas, Torosidis, Maniatis, Modesto, Machado, Abdoun, Djebbour, Fuster. Subs: Carroll, Ibagaza, Fejsa, Siovas, Greco, Mitroglou, Diogo. /// Schalke: Unnerstall, Howedes, Papadopoulos, Fuchs, Matip, Holtby, Jones, Barnetta, Neustaedter, Farfan, Huntelaar. Subs: Faehrmann, Uchida, Afellay, Hoeger, Draxler, Kolasinac, Pukki.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Olympiacos

    Manager: Leonardo Jardim

  • Schalke 04

    Manager: Huub Stevens

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      4 6
      Defenders
      3.6 7
      5 6
      Yellow Card 5 6
      4.8 5
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out69′ 4.5 5
      4.3 6
      4.8 6
      Substitution Out58′ 5.4 5
      Goal Substitution Out69′ 6.6 6
      Strikers
      5.5 5
      Subs
      Substitution In58′ Yellow Card 6 6
      Substitution In69′ 3 5
      Substitution In69′ 5 5
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      Yellow Card 7.5 6
      Defenders
      Goal Yellow Card 8.5 7
      8.1 7
      Yellow Card 6.7 6
      7.6 7
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card Substitution Out90′ 7.6 5
      8 6
      Substitution Out90′ 8 8
      7.6 6
      Substitution Out79′ 7.2 6
      Strikers
      Goal 7.9 7
      Subs
      Substitution In79′ 8.2 7
      Substitution In90′ 8.5 6
      Substitution In90′ 7.3 6

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  1. Yay Schalke

    From AC, on Wed 3 Oct 2:37

  2. Can't understand why Draxler isn't playing?! We­ need to relax and play our game, come on boys!

    From Lufti, on Tue 18 Sep 20:20
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