Olympiakos in Turin for mission impossible
TURIN – The Olympiakos squad arrived to freezing weather in Italy’s north yesterday with no choice but victory against Juventus tonight (9.45 p.m., Mega Channel) if the club wants to remain alive in Europe this season. Already mathematically eclipsed from the next round of the Champions League, where 16 qualifiers begin knockout home-and-away play all the way to the final, Olympiakos can only hope for third place in Group D, and a consolatory place in the less prestigious UEFA Cup’s third round. To get there, the Greek club must defeat Group D’s frontrunner, already through, in tonight’s final round of group play and hope that third-placed Galatasaray, two points ahead of Olympiakos, does not emerge victorious from Spain, also tonight, in its clash against Real Sociedad. The Turks have strong incentive to do so. A win would give them second spot in the group and a place among the competition’s 16. Olympiakos and Galatasaray would share third place with seven points apiece should the Greek team win and the Turkish team draw, but Olympiakos would advance on a better head-to-head record. AEK, last in Group C and already eliminated from Europe, greets Monaco in Athens tonight. The French side shares the group’s top spot with La Coruna Deportivo.
