Olympiakos did not rise to the Bayern occasion
Olympiakos suffered a 3-0 home reverse to Bayern Munich in its opening game for this season’s Champions League on Wednesday, following a rather disappointing performance against one of the continental game’s giants who deserved to score even more goals on the night.
After the first few lively minutes, the Greeks (who actually had only one Greek in their line-up) dropped back and chose to defend, despite being urged on by a capacity crowd at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus.
Considerably outplayed in midfield and with several problems at the flanks against a superior side, Olympiakos could not hold on to the ball and was all too often unable to stop the visitors from entering its box.
Bayern had quite a few chances to break the deadlock from the first half, but was unable to finish them off, including a goalline intervention by Brown Ideye that spared Olympiakos a certain goal.
Lady Luck turned her back to Olympiakos and smiled at Bayern early in the second half, as what appeared like a cross from the left by Thomas Mueller ended into the Olympiakos net on the 52nd minute.
Four minutes on, a great shot from the edge of the box by Ideye pulled a spectacular save by Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer in what was the Greek champion’s best chance in the game. Salino also missed a good opportunity for Olympiakos to equalize seven minutes from the end.
Bayern had more chances to extend its lead, with Olympiakos keeper Roberto holding firm when required, until substitute Mario Goetze made it 2-0 from close range on the 89th and Mueller added his second from the penalty spot in injury time.
