Lift needed against Chelsea
After eking out a 1-0 win over Ergotelis, defending Greek champion Olympiakos is hoping to raise its game in time for tonight’s Champions League match against Chelsea at home, a first-leg game in the Round of 16. «I’m sure we’ll show a different side of our game on Tuesday,» Olympiakos coach Takis Lemonis said yesterday. «Our aim is to win games and win the championship but we have to make those victories simpler.» Chelsea reached the quarterfinals of the FA Cup on Saturday and has a healthy team for the second round match in Greece. Players such as Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien are all back from the African Cup of Nations. Olympiakos should have former Portsmouth striker Lomano LuaLua back from injury, and Greek league top scorer Darko Kovacevic said the team has a chance. «It doesn’t matter who scores. All that counts is victory for Olympiakos,» Kovacevic said. «We can do it if we really play like ourselves.» Olympiakos has won 10 of the last 11 league titles, but reached the knockout stage of the Champions League only once before, in 1999. «It’s a huge match for everybody,» Lemonis said. Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard and defender John Terry are back from injury for Chelsea. «Olympiakos away is a difficult game. They are a difficult team, especially at home,» said Lampard, who scored two goals in the 3-1 win over Huddersfield. «They have proved that with the results they get, especially against the top teams. So we can’t go there and be sloppy. We need to be very professional and go there against a difficult atmosphere, a difficult team, and do the right job,» Lampard added. Veteran European campaigner Andriy Shevchenko is hoping to spearhead Chelsea’s assault. The Ukrainian, who tasted Champions League glory with AC Milan in 2003, played in the FA Cup win over Huddersfield on Saturday after missing 11 games with a back problem. Chelsea landed in Athens amid a snowstorm Sunday, hours before the city’s airport closed. The cold snap, which led to three league matches being postponed Sunday, is not expected to affect tonight’s match. (AP/AFP)
