Olympiacos will welcome Slovan Bratislava to the Karaiskaki Stadium in Greece for the first leg of the Europa League play-off round with the winner of the two legs set to enter the competition for the 2021/22 season.
In this year’s tournament, the Europa League is undergoing a major revamp. For 2021/22, the group stage has been reduced from 48 to 32 teams and there will be additional knockout round play-offs prior to the round of 16, and all this seems to have ignited a fire in the current play-off rounds.
🔴⚪🦁 #Olympiacos #UEL #OLYSLO #Countdown #1day @elarabiyoussef @EuropaLeague @SKSlovan pic.twitter.com/eT4XqUO50h— Olympiacos FC (46🏆) (@olympiacosfc) August 18, 2021
🔴⚪🦁 #Olympiacos #UEL #OLYSLO #Countdown #1day @elarabiyoussef @EuropaLeague @SKSlovan pic.twitter.com/eT4XqUO50h
We’ve seen high-scoring demolitions and low-scoring tense battles, and when Olympiacos meet Bratislava, we expect to see another exceptionally close game, especially how the Greek side haven’t started their league campaign just yet.
The Super League Greece champions faced off with Ludogorets in the Champions League qualifiers last week and pushed them all the way to penalties before losing 4-1 in the shootout after three missed penalties.
Nevertheless, Olympiacos still come into this game with another league title, however, and therefore, their form shouldn’t be doubted.
The Greek giants made it 46 league triumphs last season and it was in fact one of their best campaigns in recent times with just two defeats and 90 points from 36 games.
As for Bratislava, they too enter this play-off battle in the Europa League with another league title themselves, following their 71-point haul that saw them beat Dunajska Streda to the top spot by six points.
This season, the Slovakian side are currently top of the table once again and have yet to even be touched by another team in the Slovak Super Liga as they sit with all nine points from three games.
At the same time, Bratislava have scored nine goals, let in just two and as of now, it doesn’t seem like anybody can stop them defending their league title, especially after they only just lost out on Champions League football by one goal to Young Boys late last month.
The form of either side is set to make this a very close one and no doubt the tie will ultimately be decided in the second leg, as Forbet anticipates a draw.
The fact the usual superior outfit, Olympiacos, have not played a league game, combined with Bratislava unbeaten domestic ways, makes for a compelling clash.
Goals are expected, but so is a close game, and Forebet has predicted a 2-2 draw in Greece.