The second continental final of the season gets underway on Wednesday as Olympiacos face Fiorentina at the OPAP Arena in Athens in the Europa Conference League.
Olympiacos produced two impressive performances over two legs in the semi-finals to defeat Unai Emery’s Aston Villa 6-2 on aggregate as they qualified for their first European final since winning the 1963 Balkans Cup.
Fiorentina’s progression was less comfortable as they edged past Belgian outfit Club Brugge 4-3 on aggregate, with the Violets becoming the first ever side to feature in more than one Europa Conference League finals, following their defeat to West Ham at this stage last season.
- OLYMPIACOS TO WIN
- BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
- AYOUB EL KAABI TO SCORE ANYTIME
Home Advantage In Favour Of Olympiacos
Although they will be playing at the home of local rivals AEK Athens, Olympicaos will be expected to have the majority of the support on Wednesday night and that could be key in helping Thrylos claim their first major European title.
The Greek side are in impressive form going into this encounter, having lost just one of their last eight in all competitions, while they have also lost only one of their eight Europa Conference League matches since joining at the knockout stage, winning six in that run.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, are unbeaten in this tournament this season however their recent form could be stronger, with the Violets winning two of their last five matches as well as failing to win either of their last two European fixtures away from the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Despite being played at a “neutral” venue, Olympiacos could be classed as the home side given just 15 kilometres separate the OPAP Arena and their Karaiskakis Stadium and with Fiorentina winning just one of their last five on the road, the Italians may be unable to succeed against an intensely-backed Greek outfit.
Goals Expected At Both Ends
Each of Olympiacos and Fiorentina possess more than their fair share of attacking quality and the goals could rain down in Athens should both sides have their shooting boots on.
Five of Olympiacos’s last six European fixtures have seen both sides find the back of the net while the same is true for each of Fiorentina’s last eight in all competitions, including both semi-final legs against Club Brugge.
El Kaabi To Continue Scoring Run
Olympiacos have this season’s Europa Conference League top scorer among their ranks in Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi and the 30 year-old could light up the final and add even more goals to his ever-growing tally.
El Kaabi has scored 10 goals in this years competition - as well as netting 17 in the Greek Super League - and five of these came across two legs against Aston Villa in the previous round, so he should not be lacking in confidence in front of goal.
AYOUB EL KAABI TO SCORE ANYTIME
