Olympiacos vs FC Krasnodar
Champions League Qualification
Date: Wednesday, 21 August 2019
Kick-off at 20:00 UK / 21:00 CET
Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium (Piraeus).
Olympiakos vs Krasnodar Preview, Predictions & Betting Tips
FC Krasnodar Forms & Team News
Krasnodar finished third in the Russian Premier League last season. They overcame the slow start of this campaign, beating FC Tambov 2-0 on Saturday to sit one point behind Zenit St Petersburg after six matches.
Bulls produced a big surprise by passing Porto in the Champions League. The Russian club lost 1-0 at home but stung the Portuguese side by winning 3-0 in Portugal, surviving to win 3-2 to advance with an away goal.
Tonny Vilhena scored in the 3rd minute with Shapi Suleymanov scoring two before half time. Porto came home strong but Krasnodar held on for its famous victory. 35-year-old manager Murad Musaev has a great squad with new players Rémy Cabella, Tonny Vilhena, Younes Namli and Ruslan Kambolov all appearing to stand out. Kambolov missed the 2nd leg against Porto but returned against Tambov.
Winger Wanderson continues to be an important player and Shapi Suleymanov is in very good condition. Ivan Ignatyev competed with Marcus Berg for a place in front with injuries left to center midfielder Yuri Gazinskiy and winger Viktor Claesson.
Olympiakos Piraeus FC Form & Team News
Olympiakos reached the UEFA Champions League playoffs after beating Istanbul Basaksehir 3-0 on aggregate. 1-0 in Turkey secured with Georgios Masouras headed in a Mathieu Valbuena cross and José Sá saved a penalty.
Pedro Martins' side won 2-0 in Greece, Rúben Semedo opened the scoring and Mathieu Valbuena's penalty finished the job. Olympiakos defeated Viktoria Plzeň 4-0 at home in the second half and were hard to beat in Athens.
Olympiakos have won their last nine home matches in the Greek Super League where they have scored 4+ goals in six of their last seven matches. Rúben Semedo was signed to strengthen the defense and has helped Olympiakos keep five consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.
French attacking midfielder Mathieu Valbuena arrived from Fenerbahce and settled well. With a goal and two assists in his last three matches, his production helped replace the injured Konstantinos Fortounis who was absent until January.
Martins keeps the same starting side on both legs against Istanbul Basaksehir and we must see the same side against Krasnodar. Olympiakos paid 1.95 to win which would be a popular choice based on their strength at home.
Krasnodar is difficult to challenge and can be supported at 4.00 to win in Athens with a payout draw of 3.30.
Olympiacos vs Krasnodar - Match Statistics
Although Olympiacos must progress through additional qualifying rounds, they have taken part in 18 group stage campaigns
They haven't conceded a goal so far in their four Champions League qualifying matches, and are unbeaten in eight home matches in the competition (W6, L2)
Olympiakos has three of their four matches against Russian clubs, losing once in 1971/72 against Dinamo Moscow
Dramatic victory of the second leg of Krasnodar in Oporto was their first European away win in five matches
In their only previous meeting with Greek opposition away from home, Krasnodar drew 0-0 with PAOK four seasons ago.
Krasnodar striker Marcus Berg played for arch-rivals Olympiacos Panathinaikos for four seasons, scoring three goals against them
Futbolgrad Network Predictions: Olympiacos vs Krasnodar - 1-1
Olympiacos vs Krasnodar - Possible Lineups
Olympiacos
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Sá - Elabdellaoui, Semedo, Merlah, Tsimikas - Bouchalakis, Guilherme - Podence, Valbuena, Masouras - Guerrero
Head coach: Pedro Martins
Krasnodar
Formation: 4-3-3
Safonov - Petrov, Spajic, Fjóluson, Ramírez - Vilhena, Kambolov, Olsson - Wanderson, Berg, Cabella
Head coach: Murad Musaev
