- Olympiacos clinched the 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League after beating Fiorentina 1-0 in the Athens
- Jose Luis Mendilibar, Olympiacos manager, has now won two successive European finals after leading Sevilla to Europa League triumph last season
Olympiacos clinched the 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League after beating Fiorentina 1-0 in the Athens. Morocco international Ayoub El Kaabi scored the only goal the match with a four minutes of extra time left to play to see Olympiacos become the first team from Greece to win a European title.
El Kaabi headed home in the AEK Arena, but a lengthy VAR check almost ruined the party before his goal was allowed to stand.
Jose Luis Mendilibar, Olympiacos manager, has now won two successive European finals after leading Sevilla to Europa League triumph last season. He was sacked by the Spanish side at the start of October and joined Olympiacos in February, becoming the club’s third permanent manager after Diego Martinez and Carlos Carvalhal were relieved from their duties.
Olympiacos players celebrate after winning the Conference League on Wednesday. Photo/ China Daily.
Olympiacos were underdogs heading into this clash and just become the second Greek team to reach a European finals. The only Greek side that had played in the final of a European competition was Panathinaikos, who lost to Ajax at Wembley Stadium in European Cup final back in 1971.
On the other hand, favourites Fiorentina were playing in their sixth European final and were aiming to win the 2024 edition of the Europa Conference League final after losing last year to West Ham. They last won a European trophy 63 years ago and haven’t claimed a major silverware in 23 years.
How Olympiacos Won The Europa Conference League
Olympiacos reached the final of this year’s Europa Conference League after thrashing Premier League side Aston Villa 6-2 on aggregate.
With the final being played in home soil, the Thrylos had the advantage and flew out of the blocks as they attempted to take the lead early on. Daniel Podence, who is on loan from English club Wolverhampton, forced Fiorentina goalkeeper Piertro Terracciano into making a fine save to stop the ball from going into the back of the net.
Fiorentina responded to the scare by creating their own chance but Giacomo Bonaventura’s effort was not a threat to the goalie. He was again denied when attempting to lob the ball past the goalkeeper.
One the other end, Fiorentina managed to keep Olympiacos’ most dangerous man in front of goal El Kaabi quiet. The Moroccan, however, found a golden opportunity at one point in the opening 45 minutes but failed to convert as his first touch was poor.
Overall, it was Fiorentina who had a better first half and they continued to control the play in the second period of this final. AFCON winner with Ivory Coast Christian Kouame had a big chance to open the scoring for the Italian side but missed.
Olympiacos grew in confidence as time ran out and would have stolen victory in the final minutes of normal time but Vicente Iborra’s header went just wide.
With the scores still 0-0 after 90 minutes, the match went into half-time where the Greek side threatened to take the lead again, this time former Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetic unleashing a ferocious strike that was tipped over the bar by the goalie.
Olympiacos beat Fiorentina to win the Europa Conference League. Photo/ All Goals.
After Jonathan Ikone’s attempt was saved, Fiorentina were made to pay in the 117th minute when El Kaabi headed home from Santiago Hezze’s cross to win the match for Olympiacos.
“I’m really proud of my guys. You saw the atmosphere here, I think we did great all year and we deserved it. I want to compliment Fiorentina, two years in a row in the final, two years in a row in the final, amazing team.” Stevan Jovetic told TNT Sports after Olympiacos won the Europa Conference League, as per The New York Times.
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