Olympiacos FC vs. Rubin Kazan UEFA Europa League preview
David Fuster’s deflected shot in Russia has given Olympiacos FC a 1-0 advantage as they look to reach the UEFA Europa League round of 32 at the expense of Rubin Kazan.
Olympiacos hit the winner after 71 minutes in Moscow, but the hero of the match was Northern Irish goalkeeper Roy Carroll, who saved a penalty with his first touch for his new club 14 minutes from time, having replaced Balazs Megyeri – who had been sent off for conceding the spot kick.
The clubs have been paired for the first time in UEFA competition.
Olympiacos’s only experience of Russian opposition prior to this season came in 1971 when they lost 2-0 at home and won 2-1 away against FC Dinamo Moskva in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup first round.
All four of Rubin’s meetings with Greek sides prior to this term have ended in draws ? two 0-0s against Panathinaikos FC in the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League group stage and a 2-2 draw at home and a 1-1 away against PAOK FC in this season’s UEFA Europa League group stage.
Olympiacos moved into the UEFA Europa League despite winning three of their last four games in the UEFA Champions League group stage.
The Greek champions last featured in the round of 32 in 2008/09, losing to an AS Saint-Étienne side featuring Belgian attacker Kevin Mirallas, now at the Piraeus club.
They were more successful in their only other appearance at this stage, in 2004/05 ? the first season since the advent of the UEFA Cup group stage ? beating FC Sochaux Montbéliard but losing to Newcastle United FC in the round of 16.
Rubin are in the round of 32 for a third season in succession; they overcame Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC at this stage in 2009/10 but bowed out to VfL Wolfsburg in the round of 16. They then succumbed to FC Twente last term.
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