The Greek capital provides the venue for one of the less profile last 16 ties of this season's Champions League. The worldwide fame of the English champions however will easily make it one of the more watched ties.
For a season that easily makes it to the top 5 most disappointing seasons of the club, Manchester United have been exceptional in the champions league. To be fair, that has undoubtedly got a lot to do with the plum draw that we got in the group stages, but almost all our best performances have come in the competition that was supposed to expose David Moyes' flaws as a manager. In a bizzare twist of things, he has looked assured in Europe---using Kagawa to deadly effect---while he has been made to look out of sorts in the bread and butter that is domestic football. That we go into the tie tomorrow with the best defensive record is a minor baffling statistic in itself considering we've had a differenet defensive partnership for just about every group stage game. Still, the fact that we've not been severely tested or at least punished could account for that but you can only beat what is in front of you.
Speaking of what is in front of us, Olympiakos stand between us and a place in the final eight of Europe's premier club competition. Given the state in which United find themselves, you cannot authoritatively say that it is a tie which United should easily negotiate. If the United we've come to know lately shows up, it suddenly becomes anyone's game on the night.
There is a tempetation to play for just the one away goal on away days in Europe just as we did in Shaktar, but I'd like us to show teeth at every opportunity, get more than the one goal if we can. Old Trafford has not been home this season so we might need a couple of away goals to offset any eventuality in the home leg.
We've got another couple of weeks break after this so you hope that the players break a leg and put in a shift to get us a result to keep us happy for another ten days or so. So come on United!
Labels: UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE