Swiss midfielder Pajtim Kasami scored in the first half to lead Olympiakos to a 1-0 Group A UEFA Champions League victory over Juventus on Wednesday.
Olympiakos held off fierce pressure by Juventus in the second half to clinch their fifth straight Champions League home win.
“It was a fantastic night and I thank the players for their excellent performance. We are truly a team and we are close to celebrating our qualification,” Olympiakos’ Spanish coach Michel said.
Photo: Reuters
Kasami’s goal came in the 36th minute after constant pressure from the home team, which saw them deservedly record their second victory in the group.
“I feel great for the win and we worked hard for the three points. This gives us confidence for the remaining matches in the group,” Kasami said.
Argentine midfielder Alejandro Dominguez set up the goal for a charging Kasami, whose left-footed shot beat Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Dominguez sparked Olympiakos in the first half with his speed and accurate passes, and he nearly scored in the seventh minute with a free-kick that was tipped away at the last moment by Buffon and 20 minutes later with a shot that just missed the target.
Juventus had the best opportunity to score in the first half in the 12th minute when, after a corner by Andrea Pirlo, striker Carlos Tevez tapped the ball toward the Olympiakos goalkeeper from up close, only for defender Omar Elabdellaoui to clear the ball off the goal-line.
Seven minutes later Tevez headed the ball into the Olympiakos net after a corner by Pirlo amid confusion in the home team’s defense, but the Argentine player was ruled offside.
In the second half Juve applied more pressure and had three golden opportunities to score in the 65th, 75th and 80th minutes, but Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto kept them all out.
The Spanish goalkeeper stopped one-on-one attempts first by fellow countryman Alvaro Morata and then by Tevez.
Then in the 80th minute a shot by Morata was again saved by Roberto, with the ball smacking the right post and going out of play.
Kasimi had an opportunity to add to his first-half tally when in the 60th minute his left-foot shot from close range just missed the right post after another fantastic pass from Dominguez.
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