Europa League: Quarter-final Beckons After Season Slog

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Olympiacos

Even before the intervention of Covid-19, Wolverhampton Wanderers were in line for one of the longest seasons in football history.

Once that arrived, their place in history was assured.

For it is over a year now (July 25, 2019) since the proud Black and Gold institution from the Black Country began their 2019/20 campaign.

That was in the Europa League, the exact competition where they will also finish it.

The question is, can they now complete one of the ultimate success stories and round it off in style?

Talking Points

Whether they can or not, victory at Molyneux in this encounter will see them reach their first European quarter-final since 1972 – a year when they went all the way to the final in this competition before losing narrowly to Spurs.

An incredible 46 years on, a place in the last eight would be a feat in itself in a season where they have produced plenty of Europa League highlights, not to mention stand-out Premier League moments.

For both teams – the winners of whom will meet either Sevilla or Roma in the quarter-finals next week – it’s been a mammoth campaign.

Olympiacos are clearly no strangers to English opposition after knocking Arsenal out of the Europa earlier this season after being beaten by Spurs in the Champions League.

Europa League: Greek champions Olympiacos will take on Wolverhampton Wanderers away from home — Youssef El-Arabi celebrates after scoring Olympiacos’ second goal against Arsenal

Since then they have got stronger, winning the Greek Super League, defeated just once and finishing 18 points ahead of second-placed PAOK, securing their triumph with six games to spare.

They are also due to play in the Greek Cup final, against AEK Athens, and their class of 2020 is being hailed by many as one of the best in the club’s history.

This will be Olympiacos’ 16th European fixture of the season, making it both clubs’ longest-ever continental campaign.

The Piraeus giants will be hampered though this week by the absence of first-choice keeper José Sá, meaning Bobby Allain will be thrown in at the deep end for his European debut.

Wolves, fresh from finishing seventh in the Premier League, have enjoyed their first European adventure for 39 years.

After winning all six qualifying matches last summer, knocking out Crusaders,

Pyunik and, in the play-offs, Torino, they finished runners-up to Braga in Group K, accumulating 13 points, and were comfortable winners over fellow UEFA Europa League debutants Espanyol in the round of 32.

Over the course of the season, it’s been hard to pick out individuals such has been the team ethic, but Rúben Neves has been superb, a real model of consistency.

Leander Dendoncker and Romain Saïss are very unsung, while top scorer Raul Jimenez – who has been the subject of lots of speculation, linking him with Manchester United and Juventus – is aiming high,

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side welcome the Greek side to Molineux, knowing a victory will see them head out to Germany for the mini-tournament which is seeing out the competition.

They also know if they go all the way in the Europa, they will claim a Champions League place.

There is also a connection on the benches in that the clubs are both led by Portuguese coaches.

Santo (Wolves) and Pedro Martins (Olympiacos) were Vitória SC team-mates in 1994/95 and Nuno succeeded Martins as Rio Ave head coach in 2014.

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What’s more, they have met six times as head coaches in the Portuguese Liga. Martins’ Marítimo won two and drew two against Nuno’s Rio Ave in 2012/13 and 2013/14, but Nuno’s Porto won home and away against Martins’ Vitória SC in 2016/17.

Clearly, a little introduction is needed.

In addition, Wolves signed Portuguese winger Daniel Podence from Olympiacos in January.

Now the introductions are done with, it’s time to do the talking on the pitch as a European quarter-final awaits the victors.