Ο Ολυμπιακός γνώρισε την ήττα με σκορ 4-0 από την Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ στο Ολντ Τράφορντ στο πλαίσιο της τρίτης αγωνιστικής της πρώτης φάσης των ομίλων του Champions League. Ο Ράιαν Γκιγκς στο 20ο και το 66ο λεπτό σημείωσε δύο γκολ για τους γηπεδούχους. Ο Χουάν Σεμπάστιαν Βερόν στο 26ο και ο Ολε Γκούναρ Σόλσκιερ στο 77ο χρίστηκαν σκόρερ επίσης και διαμόρφωσαν το τελικό σκορ. Ο Ολυμπιακός έπαιξε με παίκτη λιγότερο σε όλο το δεύτερο ημίχρονο λόγω αποβολής του Ζε Ελίας με απευθείας κόκκινη στις καθυστερήσεις του πρώτου 45λεπτου. Για τον ίδιο όμιλο, η Λεβερκούζεν νίκησε 2-0 τη Μακάμπι Χάιφα στο ΓΣΠ της Κύπρου.

ΚΙΤΡΙΝΕΣ: Βερόν, Γκ.Νέβιλ, Φέρντιναντ---/---Καρεμπέ, Ανατολάκης
ΚΟΚΚΙΝΕΣ: Ζε Ελίας

ΜΑΝΤΣΕΣΤΕΡ ΓΙΟΥΝΑΙΤΕΝΤ: Μπαρτέζ, Γκάρι Νέβιλ, Σιλβέστρ, Μπλαν (64" Ο"Σι), Φέρντιναντ, Βερόν, Μπατ, Μπέκαμ, Γκιγκς (64΄ Φόρτσουν), Σκόουλς (78΄ Φορλάν), Σόλσκιερ

ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ: Ελευθερόπουλος, Αμανατίδης (73 Πατσατζόγλου), Ανατολάκης, Αντζας, Βενετίδης, Ζε Ελίας, Καρεμπέ, Ζέτερμπεργκ, Τζόρτζεβιτς, Γιαννακόπουλος (46 Ντρασένα), Οφορίκουε (60 Αλεξανδρής).

Giggsy celebrates his first

 

Only a collapse of catastrophic proportions could stop Manchester United from progresssing through to the UEFA Champions League second phase after they brushed aside Olympiakos 4-0 with a fine attacking performance that allowed the Greek champions little chance to express themselves.

Ryan Giggs, Juan Sebastian Veron, Georgios Amanatidis (own-goal) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the goals that put United in a remarkably strong position in their group with two away games coming next on the fixture list.

United approached this evening's clash with Olympiakos Piraeus at Old Trafford knowing that Sir Alex Ferguson's prediction that 10 points would be enough to see them through to the second group phase could be all but achieved with a victory over the Greek champions.

And taking in to consideration the fact that Olympiakos have never scored in European competition in England let alone win a match, everything pointed to a stroll for the Reds.

Due to minor clash in the two sets of shirts United took the field wearing their third choice gear of all blue whilst Olympiakos were decked out in all black with the offending broad red strip down the side. Pity anyone still in possession of a black and white television set!

United certainly started the game as though they were keen to end any lingering doubts about their qualification for the next stage. Four times in the opening few minutes they had the visitors' goal under severe pressure and with an ounce of luck they could have been at least two goals to the good.

David Beckham was to the fore in these early assaults, twice unleashing his hallmarked free-kicks at the Olympiakos goal. The first was pushed away by keeper Eleftheropoulos, the second struck Giannakopoulos, rebounded to Gary Neville who struck a booming drive that almost caught the keeper of guard.

The visitors were feeling the full force of an early United onslaught and only couple of timely clearances prevented United from taking the lead as the pressure continued.

United continued to look slick and sharp and in the 19th minute the goal they had been threatening was forthcoming. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Paul Scholes providing the assists for Ryan Giggs hit the ball past Eleftheropoulos at the second attempt. Olympiakos could have no complaints for United had been well on top since the first whistle and it was amazing it had taken nineteen minutes to make the breakthrough.

Olympiakos were facing increasing difficulties in containing United and seven minutes after Giggs had scored the opener United doubled their advantage. And it was a beaut as Juan Sebastian Veron raced through to score with a delicious lob after taking a pass from Beckham.

The Greek champions were struggling to find the answers whilst United were displaying some of their best football of the season so far.

Occasional sorties into United's half relieved the pressure for Olympiakos but relief was only brief as the Reds pressed forward looking to increase their tally.

Olympiakos were finding it hard to contain United with eleven men so their cause wasn't improved upon on the stroke of half-time when midfield man Ze Elias was shown the red card for a reckless challenge on Veron. Referee Gilles Veissiere was on the spot and without hesitation pointed to the direction of the dressing rooms.

United began the evening hoping to virtually clinch their passage to stage two, at half-time they were almost there. 

The visitors made one change at half-time sending on Edu Dracena to replace Stylianos Giannakopoulos, but no real change to the complexion of game. United were in almost total control of the proceedings and it was just a matter of time before they would find the net again.

Sure enough, in the 66th minute the third goal was scored. Veron found Giggs on the left and following a jinking run his cross was deflected into the net by Georgios Amanatidis. Club announcer Alan Keegan quickly credited to the goal to United's in-form Welsh Wizard but it is highly unlikely that the ball would have found the net without the contact it
made with the Olympiakos full-back.

Laurent Blanc and Giggs were withdrawn to be replaced by John O'Shea and Quinton Fortune in the 69th minute but the team alterations did little to interrupt United's rhythm and a few minutes later they scored fourth goal of the night. Veron, having an inspired evening, played the ball forward to Scholes, who in turn connected with Solskjaer. The baby-faced goalscorer doesn't miss from that distance and he made no mistake.

Former Middlesbrough star Christian Karembeu hit a rising drive as the came neared it close. There was a fair amount of power attached to the strike but it barely troubled Barthez.

The noisy and animated Olympiakos supporters ended the night with a song to the tune of 'Jingle Bells' but there were no early Christmas gifts for the Greek champions. They had been comprehesively beaten by a United who appeared to nearing something akin to the form they would be requiring to make a concerted bid for honours at home and abroad.

Report by Cliff Butler.

UNITED: Barthez; G Neville, Ferdinand, Blanc (O'Shea, 69), Silvestre; Beckham, Butt, Veron, Giggs (Fortune, 69); Solskjaer, Scholes (Forlan, 77). Subs not used: P Neville, May, Stewart, Ricardo.

OLYMPIAKOS: Eletheropoulous; Amanatidis (Patsatzoglu, 72), Antzas, Anatolakis, Venetidis; Karembeu, Zetterberg, Ze Elias, Djordjevic; Giannakopoulos (Edu Dracena, 46), Oforiquaye (Alexandris, 60). Subs not used: Giannou, Giovanni, Kostoulas, Niniadis.

Olympiakos Piraeus FC were not the first, and will certainly not be the last, team to confront a difficult away game in the UEFA Champions League by adopting a cautious policy based on a reinforced midfield with just one striker employed in attack.

Repair work
Such tactics were perfectly understandable given the repair work the Greek team needed to do on their morale following last week's 3-0 defeat in Nicosia by Maccabi Haifa. Yet Manchester United FC's resounding 4-0 victory on Matchday Three was more evidence in support of those who claim that to sit back and allow Europe's best to come on to you and dominate the game is a recipe for defeat.

MATCH ANALYSIS:
In fact, both teams at Old Trafford lined up with just a solo striker, United naming Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in that role with Ruud van Nistelrooij nursing a hamstring strain while Olympiakos brought in Peter Oforiquaye as their front runner in place of Giovanni. For the Greek champions to make any kind of impact, Oforiquaye needed support, but it was not forthcoming, as Predrag Djordjevic, Christian Karembeu and Paer Zetterberg found themselves preoccupied with trying to help stem the stream of home attacks.

Bolder strategy
Olympiakos coach Takis Lemonis decided against a bolder strategy on the night. Certainly Maccabi had been adventurous in their approach on the same ground two weeks previously, and had been rewarded with goals early and late in the game, while other scoring opportunities presented themselves.

Openings missed
What was crucial to Lemonis' tactics was for his team to seize the few openings that came along, but Zetterberg failed to make any contact with a heading opportunity in the 13th minute and Oforiquaye, played onside after 35 minutes, could not get his shot in quickly enough.

One-way flow
These were merely brief respites in the one-way flow of traffic though. If Juan Sebastiαn Veron is able to get on the ball with ease, relieved of any arduous defensive duty, he can destroy the best-laid defensive plans with the range, accuracy and surprise element contained in his passing.

Verσn sparkles
It was a night when Old Trafford was left in no doubt that, when the mood takes him, the Argentinian is one of the world's great midfield players. His goal which followed Ryan Giggs' opener was a thrilling effort after a slick one-two with David Beckham took him clear of the defence. A sublime chip over Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos had manager Sir Alex Ferguson drooling: "It was a world-class goal. It was pure audacity to chip the goalkeeper, because other players would have tried to blast it or go round him, and he has chosen the most difficult route of all."

Scholes saluted
Olympiakos had no one like Paul Scholes to drift into those penalty-box positions which can wreak most damage. The first goal arrived that way as he squared for Giggs to finish off. It was also Scholes' pass to Solskjaer which provided the fourth goal and Sir Alex was quick to salute both the player (making only his second reappearance following surgery) and the tactical flexibility he affords the team.

More comfortable
"Mentally he did not come to terms with the position [the withdrawn role just behind the strikers] last season, but he is far more comfortable now," the United manager said. "He brings a dimension to our game which we need."

KEY PLAYER: Juan Sebastian Veron (Manchester United FC)
A commanding display full of immaculate distribution and topped off with a wonderful goal.