Atletico humbled by Olympiakos in Greece

Greek champions Olympiakos stunned last year’s Champions League runners-up Atletico Madrid in Piraeus with a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

The La Liga winners seemed sluggish in the opening minutes, and the home side took full advantage with well-taken goals from full-back Arthur Masuaku and midfielder Ibrahim Afellay.

But the Spanish champions began to assert themselves, and it was no surprise when their new central striker Mario Mandzukic pulled them level on 37 minutes with a trademark header.

Taking the game to Olympiakos at the start of the second half, Diego Simeone’s men seemed the most likely winners, with Koke pulling the strings in midfield and Cristian Ansaldi providing probing crosses from the left.

But it was former Fulham striker Kostas Mitroglou who extended the home side’s lead against the run of play on 72 minutes.

It proved to be the winning goal, despite heavy pressure from the visitors after substitute Antoine Griezemann reduced the deficit on 85 minutes.

Pre-match: Olympiakos manager Michel brings in Kostas Mitroglou up front – the striker has not scored a goal since November.

13’ - GOAL! 1-0 Olympiakos - a short corner comes out to defender Arthur Masuaku, and he rifles it in from outside the area.

23’ – CHANCE – Cristian Ansaldi delivers a dangerous-looking cross into the box for Mario Mandzukic, but the big forward can't get any power on the header, which clips Eric Abidal - the Croat wants a penalty, but he’d have been very fortunate.

30' - GOAL! 2-0 to the home side. A cross comes in from the left, Mitroglu steps over it, and as two Atletico defenders fall over themselves, Ibrahim Afellay is on hand to fire a low shot into the bottom left hand corner.

37' - GOAL! Mandzukic pulls one back for the Spanish side – it’s 2-1. A beautiful cross from the left by Ansaldi foxes both of the home side’s central defenders, and the Croat angles a cushioned header into the far corner.

60’ – CHANCE: Griezemann sees his powerful shot palmed over the bar by Roberto – it’s all Atletico now.

61’ - CHANCE - Griezemann again, he bursts forward from the halfway line and his low shot is just tipped round the post by Roberto.

72' - GOAL! 3-1 Olympiakos! Mitroglu, who’s had a quiet night, receives a cross from Pajtim Kasami just outside the six-yard box, and coolly turns and fires home.

85' - GOAL! Griezemann pulls one back for the Spanish champions after a powerful run and brilliant low cross from Koke picks him out at the far side of the penalty area. 3-2 to the home side – and that’s how it finishes.

Olympiakos beat Spanish opposition for the first time in seven attempts in European competitions – they had even failed to score in four of the previous five games.

Kostas Mitroglou’s winner was his first goal in club football since November.

Prior to this evening, Atletico Madrid had only lost six of their 35 games in the Champions League (W16 D13).

Last season, they remained unbeaten in the Champions League last season until the final, when they eventually lost 4-1 after extra-time against Real Madrid.

Have the Spanish champions lost too many good players? Simeone has warned that it will take time for his new signings to bed in, but it was always going to be difficult to maintain the level of last season’s performances after the loss of five key players. Should so many have been allowed to leave?

Eric Abidal (Olympiakos): It's harsh on Cristian Ansaldi, but the on-loan Barcelona defender just shades it for his cool but resolute marshalling of the Greek side's back four. Good to see him back in this competition, too.

Olympiakos: Roberto 7, Elabdellaoui 7, Botía 7, Abidal 8, Masuaku 7, Maniatis 6, Milivojević 6, Kasami 6, Domínguez 7, Afellay 7, Mitroglou 6. Subs: N’Dinga 6, Fuster 6, Giannoulis 6.

Atletico Madrid: Obiak 6, Juanfran 7, Godín 6, Miranda 6, Ansaldi 7, Gabi 6, Mario Suárez 6, Koke 7, Turan 7, Raul Garcia 6, Mandžukić.7. Subs: Griezemann 7, Niguez 5, Cerci 5.