Olympiakos Piraeus vs Juventus preview - Olympiacos target Juve win

Posted Tuesday, October 21, 2014 by PA

Olympiacos goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez Gago has stressed the importance of his team returning to winning ways in the Champions League when it hosts Juventus on Wednesday.

The Greek outfit lost 2-0 at Malmo last time out having previously won its Group A opener 3-2 against Atletico Madrid.

Olympiacos lie fourth in the standings, level on three points with all three group rivals after two games played.

With last season's runners-up Atletico favourites to win the pool, Jimenez Gago is aware his team needs to see off the Italian champions to enhance its chances of a top-two finish.

"We are going to give everything to beat Juventus," the former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper said to Gazzetta dello Sport. "This game is very important and we cannot fail.

"We came close to reaching the quarter-finals last season and we want to reach that stage this time around.

"Juve is a top club just as Atletico is but in our stadium, we can beat anyone."

Olympiacos have lost just two of their previous 10 Champions League home games and have beaten the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal in Piraeus in recent seasons.

"The Karaiskakis stadium is a little bit like Atletico's Calderon stadium," Jimenez Gago said. "The fans really help the team and we really feel they can give us a hand.

"We know we are not the strongest team in the competition and that is why we need the support of our fans and they deliver."

b The hosts head into the encounter in buoyant mood after Saturday's 3-2 win at Ergotelis lifted them to third place in the Greek Super League, three points adrift of leaders PAOK FC.

Juve, meanwhile, have never lost to Olympiacos in Greece but the Bianconeri have fallen in four of their last five away games in Europe's elite club competition.

Massimiliano Allegri's side travels to Greece having seen its perfect run in Serie A come to an end in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sassuolo.

The outcome saw Juve's lead at the top of the league table cut to one point after seven games played.

"We've taken a step back but we are ready to get back on track," Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci said on his official website. "Now we face a Champions League final and I think this game arrives at the right time for us.

"We will go to Athens hungrier than ever.

"Atletico have lost there but we only have one thing on our mind and that is to win."

With Fernando Llorente struggling with a back problem, Allegri is set to hand Spanish striker Alvaro Morata his first start. Morata will play alongside Carlos Tevez in Juve's attack.

The Italians will be bolstered by the return of Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, who missed the clash at Sassuolo with fatigue.

The visitors are without injured defenders Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres while Olympiacos will be at full strength.