Olympiacos vs Anderlecht preview - Mitroglou blow for Olympiakos

Posted Tuesday, December 10, 2013 by PA

Olympiacos will reach the knockout stages of the Champions League if they can secure victory over Anderlecht at Karaiskakis Stadium, but will have to do so without the talismanic figure of Kostas Mitroglou.

Mitroglou has scored 21 goals for club and country so far this season, but he suffered a knee injury in the defeat to Paris St Germain during their previous European fixture and will miss the crucial meeting with the Belgian visitors.

Olympiacos are locked on seven points with Benfica but are ahead of the Portuguese side courtesy of having the better of their head-to-head record.

That means three points on Tuesday will make it impossible for Benfica to advance.

The loss of Mitroglou is a major blow, but the Greek side head into this key encounter boosted by a weekend league win over Asteras Tripolis.

Coach Michel resisted the temptation to rotate his squad in that fixture, but has no fears that his side will lack any freshness on Tuesday.

However, he believes a much-improved performance will be required.

He told a press conference: "My selection on the weekend was not so much a matter of looking for freshness as looking for success and continuity.

"But I was disappointed with how many times we lost the ball when we had possession.

"It is true maybe we did have our minds on Tuesday, especially as it is a competition that has the eyes of the world on it and that can effect players.

"But on Tuesday we will need to be fresher, faster, more aggressive and end as winners."

Anderlecht, meanwhile, are rooted to the bottom of the group and have no hopes of even securing a Europa League spot having picked up just one point from their five games thus far.

It means Anderlecht will finish bottom of their group for the seventh time in the Champions League, and there is a good omen for their hosts in that the Belgian club have not won an away fixture in the group stage since the 2005-06 campaign.

Olympiacos, by contrast, have won eight of their last 11 home games in the group stage.