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Zico demands sudden impact

Olympiacos FC coach Zico wants the Greek champions to "take the initiative from the first minute" as they look to take a big step towards qualifying by beating R. Standard de Liège in Group H.

Zico demands sudden impact
Zico demands sudden impact ©UEFA.com

Olympiacos FC coach Zico wants the Greek champions to "take the initiative from the first minute" as they look to clinch their second Group H victory at home to R. Standard de Liège on Tuesday. His opposite number, László Bölöni, while conceding that Standard start as underdogs, still believes they can spring a surprise as they look to build on their 1-1 draw at AZ Alkmaar on Matchday 2.

Quotes
Zico, Olympiacos coach
We played well on Saturday and I hope we can continue on the same path. We had the chance to work on the players' physical condition during the international break and we changed several things in our training methods. The results are there, the team's quality is showing and the players' confidence has picked up. My philosophy is we play to win every match, regardless if it's domestic or European. Standard are a compact side, who played a great match against Arsenal [a 3-2 defeat on Matchday 1], especially the first half. We must beware of their counterattacking skills, we must not concede space and should try and take the initiative from the first minute. It is still too soon to tell what our chances of qualifying are, but if we win we'll have taken a huge step.

László Bölöni, Standard coach
Our opponents are second favourites to progress from our group behind Arsenal. Olympiacos have an impressive domestic silverware collection, they are mainstays in Europe and their strongest point is their experience with players such as Maresca, Galletti, Mellberg,
Żewłakow and, of course, Nikopolidis. They always know how to handle a match, whether they're having a good or bad day. Their fans are also impressive, second only to ours back in Liege. We must be very well organised and avoid errors. We need courage and a better performance than the one against Alkmaar three weeks ago. We admit we're the group's underdogs, but football can be generous with everyone. We will try to take our rivals by surprise.

Weekend results
17/10/09 Olympiacos 3-0 Asteras Tripolis FC
(Mellberg 35, Mitroglou 53, Zaïri 67)

• Olympiacos have won six and lost one since the dismissal of Temuri Ketsbaia on 15 September. Caretaker coach Božidar Bandović guided them to victories against AZ Alkmaar and PAOK FC before permanent successor Zico began with a 2-1 win in the rescheduled derby against AEK Athens FC.

• The Greek champions have kept ten clean sheets in 13 competitive fixtures this term.

17/10/09 KVC Westerlo 2-0 Standard
(Dekelver 28 33)

• Standard lost the Eerste Klasse's last unbeaten record, slipping to defeat at Westerlo having recorded five wins and five draws from their first ten league fixtures.

• It was also the first time Standard had failed to score this season in their 13th match in all competitions.

Team news
Olympiacos

Out: Matt Derbyshire (groin), Andreas Vasilogiannis (cruciate ligament), Diogo (ankle)
Doubtful: Giorgos Galitsios (ankle), Vassilis Torosidis (flu)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

• Diogo limped off on 17 minutes against Tripolis after aggravating an ankle injury. Galitsios also damaged his left ankle during the same game.

Standard
Out: Steven Defour (foot), Victor Ramos (hamstring), Cédric Collet (foot)
Doubtful: Eliaquim Mangala (bruised thigh), Igor De Camargo (toe)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

• De Camargo broke the little toe on his right foot during training with the Belgian national team, while Collet is expected to be out until late November after breaking a metatarsal in training. Ramos sustained a hamstring injury playing for Standard's reserves and Defour may miss the entire group stage following surgery on a broken foot.

Background

• After starting their Group H campaign with a 1-0 home victory against AZ, Olympiacos will be looking for a similar performance when they host Standard. The Greek champions will want to get back on track after a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in their second fixture while Standard, with only one point from their first two games, will be anxious to put a first win on the board. The Belgian champions let slip an early two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Arsenal in their first outing, although Moussa Traore provided a late boost at AZ on Matchday 2 with an added-time equaliser.

Did you know?
• This is the first official fixture between the teams and only the second time that each has been involved in a competitive match against a team from their rivals' country.