Olympiacos 3-2 Fenerbahçe
Fenerbahçe suffered a 3-2 defeat against Olympiakos in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals, playing away. Despite falling behind 3-0 in the match, Fenerbahçe managed to bring the score to 3-2. Fenerbahçe will host their opponent in Istanbul, aiming to advance to the next round.
Fenerbahçe, the only Turkish representative in Europe, visited Olympiakos.
The home team took the lead with goals from Fortounis in the 8th minute, Jovetic in the 32nd minute, and Chiquinho in the 57th minute, making it 3-0. Fenerbahçe’s Dusan Tadic scored from a penalty in the 67th minute, and İrfan Can Kahveci scored in the 74th minute, narrowing the gap to two goals.
The match concluded with Olympiakos securing a 3-2 victory. The second leg will be played at the Ülker Stadium on April 18.
STARTING LINEUPS
Olympiakos: Tzolakis, Rodinei, Retsos, David Carmo, Ortega, Hezze, Chiquinho, Jovetic, Fortounis, Masouras, El Kaabi
Fenerbahçe: Livakovic, Osayi, Becao, Çağlar, Oosterwolde, Krunic, Zajc, İrfan Can, Szymanski, Tadic, Dzeko
MATCH NOTES
In the match played at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Kartal made four changes, starting with Dominik Livakovic, Rodrigo Becao, Osayi-Samuel, and Çağlar Söyüncü, who replaced İrfan Can Eğribayat, Alexander Djiku, Mert Müldür, and Ferdi Kadıoğlu, respectively.
Djiku, who was injured, and Mert Müldür, who was not in the UEFA squad, did not travel to Greece, while İrfan Can Eğribayat and Ferdi Kadıoğlu were on the bench.
Coach İsmail Kartal gave Livakovic a chance in goal and fielded Osayi-Samuel, Çağlar Söyüncü, Rodrigo Becao, and Oosterwolde in defense.
Kartal entrusted the midfield to Zajc, Krunic, İrfan Can Kahveci, Sebastian Szymanski, and Tadic, while Edin Dzeko led the attack.
On the Fenerbahçe bench were Doğukan Demir, İrfan Can Eğribayat, İsmail Yüksek, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Ryan Kent, Leonardo Bonucci, Michy Batshuayi, Fred, Zeki Dursun, Efekan Karayazı, Çağrı Fedai, and Yusuf Akçiçek.
Cengiz Ünder was excluded from the squad
Fenerbahçe’s national player, Cengiz Ünder, was excluded from the squad for the Olympiakos match due to a back injury.
In addition to Cengiz Ünder, Alexander Djiku, Mert Hakan Yandaş, and Joshua King also missed the match due to injuries.
Furthermore, Mert Müldür, Serdar Aziz, and Serdar Dursun, who were not in the UEFA squad, did not travel to Greece.
OLYMPIAKOS 3-2 FENERBAHÇE
Fenerbahçe threatened in the 7th minute. İrfan Can Kahveci, receiving the ball in the right inside the penalty area from Tadic’s cross, saw Dzeko making a run behind the defense. However, Tzolakis, the goalkeeper, prevented the goal with a strong save from Dzeko’s angled shot.
Olympiakos took the lead in the 8th minute. A clearance attempt by Çağlar Söyüncü in the Fenerbahçe defense hit Masouras, reaching Fortounis outside the penalty area. Fortounis’s low shot from just outside the box found the bottom corner of the net: 1-0.
Fortounis took a corner kick won from the right side in the 27th minute. David Carmo rose above the defense at the penalty spot to head the ball, but goalkeeper Livakovic stretched to push the ball over the crossbar.
Olympiakos extended their lead to 2 in the 32nd minute. Fortounis, on the left flank, passed to Jovetic who had sneaked behind the defense on the left side of the penalty area. Despite Livakovic’s intervention, the ball found the net: 2-0.
In the 45+3rd minute, İrfan Can Kahveci took a free-kick from the right outside the penalty area. His direct shot toward the goal went just wide of the post.
In the 45+4th minute, Dzeko, receiving a pass from Ferdi on the left flank, found Krunic just outside the penalty area. Krunic’s powerful shot was saved by goalkeeper Tzolakis, and Zajc’s shot from the rebound went over the crossbar.
The first half ended with Olympiakos leading 2-0.
Olympiakos came close to scoring in the 51st minute. The ball fell to El Kaabi in the penalty area after Fenerbahçe failed to clear, but Livakovic blocked his low shot from the right inside the penalty area.
Olympiakos increased their lead to 3 in the 57th minute. Following Krunic’s misplaced pass, El Kaabi intercepted and found Chiquinho. His angled shot from the right side of the penalty area found the far corner of the net: 3-0.
In the 61st minute, Osayi-Samuel received İrfan Can Kahveci’s pass in the penalty area from the right and took a powerful shot, but goalkeeper Tzolakis denied the goal.
In the 63rd minute, Dzeko headed down Szymanski’s pass in the penalty area from İrfan Can Kahveci’s cross from the right, but goalkeeper Tzokalis prevented the goal.
Fenerbahçe won a penalty in the 66th minute. Following Osayi-Samuel’s dribble in the penalty area, Retsos fouled him, and referee Sandro Scharer pointed to the penalty spot.
Tadic stepped up to take the penalty in the 68th minute. He sent the ball and the goalkeeper to different corners, reducing the deficit to 2.
Fenerbahçe scored another goal in the 74th minute. Ferdi Kadıoğlu sent a cross to the penalty spot from the left sideline, where Szymanski found İrfan Can Kahveci in space. İrfan Can Kahveci’s shot found the net without hesitation: 3-2.
The match ended with Olympiakos winning 3-2.
