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Olympiacos
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 16, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
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0-3

FT(HT: 0-0)
Muller (52', 92' pen.), Gotze (89')

Live Commentary: Olympiacos 0-3 Bayern Munich - as it happened

Take a look back at the action with Sports Mole's text commentary after Bayern Munich claim a 3-0 win over Olympiacos in Athens.
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Bayern Munich made the perfect start to their Champions League campaign as they recorded a 3-0 victory over Olympiacos in Group F.

Olympiacos managed to limit the amount of clear opportunities on offer to the visitors before the break, but the deadlock was broken early in the second half when Thomas Muller somehow found the corner of the net with his miscued cross.

Bayern controlled the game after taking the lead, and they wrapped up the win late on as substitute Mario Gotze fired home before Muller scored his second of the night from the penalty spot.

Read below to find out how the action unfolded.


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Good evening everyone! The Champions League continues tonight as Bayern Munich, one of the contenders to become Europe's best once again, meet Olympiacos in Greece. Can the hosts cause a shock in Group F?

After being knocked out of the semi-finals in each of his two seasons with Bayern, Pep Guardiola heads into this completion under pressure to replicate the success Jupp Heynckes enjoyed when he guided the club to the treble in 2013. The Bundesliga is simply not enough for the Bayern fans. Guardiola will be desperate to triumph in this competition as a coach for the third time.

There has been some disappointing news in the last hour, with pictures and reports showing Greek police clashing with Bayern supporters. It has been suggested that some of the travelling fans have left the ground and are not planning on returning. Disappointing news, but let's hope there is no more trouble.

Olympiacos might fancy their chances of causing an upset tonight, and they have certainly done it before on Champions League nights in front of the club's passionate supporters. Former Sporting Lisbon boss Marco Silva arrived as their new head coach in the summer and he has prepared the side for their fifth successive appearance in the group stage of the competition.

OLYMPIACOS: Roberto, Da Costa, Elabdellaoui, Siovas, Masuaku, Leandro, Dominguez, Kasami, Cambiasso, Pardo, Ideye
SUBS: Kapino, Botia, Vouros, Fortounis, Finnbogason, Hernani, Seba

Brown Ideye, who struggled in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion last season, is selected to lead the line for the hosts and he should be supported by Pajtim Kasami and Alejandro Dominguez. As expected, Estebasn Cambiasso provides experience in the centre of midfield following his summer arrival on a free transfer.

BAYERN: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Bernat, Alaba, Alonso, Vidal, Thiago, Costa, Muller, Lewandowski
SUBS: Ulreich, Martinez, Rafinha, Götze, Rode, Coman, Kimmich

Jerome Boateng is the only recognised centre-back in the Bayern lineup, but Guardiola has shown before that he has capable of changing his side's shape throughout a match. David Alaba could be given the responsibility of starting the game in a central defensive role. Robert Lewandowski leads the attack, while Douglas Costa, Arturo Vidal and Thiago Alcantara also start. Arjen Robben misses out due to injury.


Any chance of Bayern being complacent tonight? Guardiola was quick to dismiss those fears when talking in his pre-match press conference.

Bayern Munich's Spanish headcoach Pep Guardiola reacts during the Audi Cup football match FC Bayern Munich vs AC Milan in Munich, southern Germany, on August 4, 2015© Getty Images

"Olympiacos have some very good players like [Alejandro] Domínguez, [Esteban] Cambiasso. They also have a very strong defence. They have won their last six home games in the UEFA Champions League and that tells you a lot," he told reporters.


Since losing in the German Super Cup to Wolfsburg, Bayern have won all five of their competitive fixtures. Olympiacos should be full of confidence, too, after recording victories in their opening three league matches. Two good sides in great form, but Bayern are certainly firm favourites.

Silva is certainly a confident manager and he showed on a couple of occasions with Sporting last season that his style can suit this competition. It would be a huge boost if they collect anything tonight.

Sporting's head coach Marco Silva looks on before the UEFA Champions League Group G football match Sporting CP vs Chelsea FC at Alvalade XXI stadium in Lisbon on September 30, 2014© Getty Images

"We have done our analysis and studied them very well. We've seen lots of their games. We know about their injuries but all big teams have alternatives. We have fantastic fans and we need their help. We will do our part," he told reporters.


STAT: Since the start of the 2012/13 campaign, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski have scored a combined 43 goals in the Champions League. Impressive!

Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski celebrate Bayern's equaliser against Augsburg on September 12, 2015© AFP


Elsewhere in Group F tonight, Arsenal are in Croatia taking on Dinamo Zagreb. Bayern and the Gunners are certainly favourites to progress, but both Guardiola and Arsene Wenger will be aware that an upset tonight could make it difficult. You can follow live text coverage of that match and every other Champions League game with Sports Mole this evening.

Bayern are unbeaten in their seven games against sides from Greece (W5 D2). If you were to back a team, all of the statistics point to Bayern tonight. The German giants have won their last 11 opening fixtures in the Champions League.

Guardiola was victorious as a player 23 years ago. He lifted the trophy twice more with Barcelona, but can he do the same in the final season of his current Bayern contract? It will be intriguing to see if he extends his stay sooner, rather than later.


PREDICTION: Olympiacos make it difficult for every side that visits the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis, but Bayern will never stray from their patient approach. Guardiola's team might find it difficult to find the time they want on the ball. However, their attacking talent should be enough to secure all three points tonight. I'm going for a 3-1 Bayern win.

The players are in he tunnel now, so kickoff is just a few minutes away now. It is going to be a special atmosphere in Piraeus. Olympiacos will be desperate to score first tonight.

The anthem has been played and the handshakes are out of the way!

KICKOFF! Olympiacos get the game underway. It is a hot evening, but that surely should not make much of a difference to Bayern.

Olympiacos start the game positively, but Bayern break quickly with Lewandowski, whose effort from long distance is charged down by Salino. Guardiola is already off the bench shouting orders at his side.

It certainly looks like a back four in the early stages, with Alaba starting in the centre of Bayern's defence alongside Boateng. Ideye has been bright early on with his running off the ball.

YELLOW CARD! Roberto piles the pressure on his side with an awful free kick on the edge of his box. The ball goes straight to Muller, who looks set to play in Costa before being brought down by Kasami. The former Fulham midfielder will have to be careful now.

Alaba hesitates as he looks to guard the ball close to the byline, but Ideye is sharp enough to steal possession and win a corner for the hosts. Good work from the forward.

Kasami manages to climb high enough to meet a corner with his head, but it is an easy save for Neuer as Olympiacos continue a promising start.

Great work from Costa as he threatens the Olympiacos defence for the first time by beating Da Costa, before firing in a cross just beyond Muller. Bayern retain possession before another cross is headed wide by Muller, who just could not get enough on the ball.

Olympiacos may have started well, but it is Bayern who are dominating possession now and worryingly for the hosts, Alonso is controlling the game from the middle of the pitch.

Cambiasso and Salino are playing very deep to protect their defence, which is preventing Bayern from finding Lewandowski on a regular basis. The key could be whether Olympiacos can pick up Muller when he roams about the pitch. Bayern dictating the tempo but remaining patient in possession.

Costa does brilliantly on the left to keep the ball in and Bayern are almost rewarded with a chance. The ball eventually reaches Alonso, who disguises a clever chipped pass which is just too strong for Thiago in the box.

CHANCE! Missed opportunity for Olympiacos, and it might not get better than this for the hosts. The ball is sent out wide to Pardo and his deflected cross reaches Ideye, who miscues his header straight into Neuer's hands. He really should have scored.

Good football from Thiago as he creates space before delivering an inch-perfect lobbed pass fro Vidal, who drifts into an offside position before the ball is played.

YELLOW CARD! The home fans are not happy. Alonso goes to ground early and Salino goes down under the challenge from the Spaniard. No whistle arrives from the referee and Cambiasso picks up a booking for his protests. Poor from the official.

YELLOW CARD! The frustration is clear for the hosts. There have been jeers from the home fans for the past couple of minutes and they are angered again when Elabdellaoui becomes the third player booked for bringing down Costa on the wing.

CHANCE! Bayern should be in front. Alonso picks the perfect cross from the free kick as Lewandowski peels off his marker to connect with the header at the back post, but Roberto gets a touch on the ball before Siovas clear.

Olympiacos are almost punished for a big mistake when Salino loses the ball on the edge of his own box. Bayern retain possession before Muller finds Alonso, who shoots just wide of the post from the edge of the box.

Olympiacos are improving now and the home side are starting to see more of the ball, but Bayern look comfortable at the back as Boateng halts a promising attack.

Alonso is forced to step in to make a vital interception when Dominguez threatens to release Pardo, but the hosts continue to grow in confidence on the ball. The first goal will be vital tonight.

Muller has struggled to get involved in the first half, but he makes an impact in the box now by linking up with Thiago before his heavy touch falls to Costa, who fires straight at Roberto.

SAVE! Bayern are turning on the style now as they step up the tempo when Costa creates space on the wing before delivering a cross which beats Muller and reaches Lewandowski, whose effort is blocked by Roberto's legs.

Excellent defending from Siovas as he beats Lewandowski in the air, before getting to his feet to block a volley from Thiago.

Bernat has left most of the attacking on the left to Costa, but he is given the space to get forward and almost punishes the hosts with a powerful strike that drifts just wide of the top corner.

Alaba is furious when the official next to the goal gives a corner after the ball appears to come off Pardo. Da Costa climbs highest to meet the following cross, but he can only head straight at Neuer.

Neuer is confident enough to charge out wide to shield the ball from a frustrated Pardo, who charges into the Bayern goalkeeper. It really should be a free kick, but the referee sticks with a throw-in. Strange decision once again from the Spanish official.

SHOT! Alonso almost silences the home fans with a powerful strike from 25 yards when he just misses the post after being set up by Thiago.

Bayern twice miss the chance to clear from a corner, before Kasami's deflected shot sends the ball through to Ideye, who is penalised for offside before he can shoot.

YELLOW CARD! It is starting to get very heated this evening. Muller halts a counter-attack and picks up a booking for bringing down Masuaku, who seems to react by kicking out at the World Cup winner.

HALF TIME: OLYMPIACOS 0-0 BAYERN MUNICH

It has been a promising start for Olympiacos, who are slightly fortunate to still be on level terms but they have battled impressively to make life difficult for Pep Guardiola's side. Bayern have played some fantastic football at times, while Olympiacos missed one great chance when Ideye miscued his header.

It is certainly a night when Bayern are missing Robben and Ribery, but the visitors should have enough to make at least one breakthrough in the second half.


BENCH WATCH: Hernani, who is on loan at Olympiacos from Porto, could be a good weapon in attack for the hosts with his pace on the break. Ideye has battled well, but it is hard work for the former West Brom forward. Bayern will surely turn to Mario Gotze at some stage, while Kingsley Coman is also on the bench.

A shock is on the cards in tonight's other Group F match, with Arsenal currently trailing Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 a the break. Arsene Wenger's side are also down a player after Olivier Giroud picked up two yellow cards.

KICKOFF! Bayern get the game back underway and immediately settle down in possession. No changes from either manager at the break.

Lahm is at the heart of Bayern's first attack of the second half when his clever cross almost reaches Costa, and the visitors win the ball back quickly before Vidal sends an effort just wide from 25 yards.

Excellent play from Kasami as he holds off challenges from a couple of Bayern players before picking out Pardo, who wastes space on the wing by slicing a cross out of play.

Brilliant football on show from Bayern, with Alonso the conductor in midfield as he switches play before getting involved in the middle of the pitch again. The ball is chipped forward to Vidal and he knocks it down for Muller, who can only miscue a half-volley wide from the edge of the box.

GOAL! OLYMPIACOS 0-1 BAYERN MUNICH (MULLER)

Bayern take the lead, but it is not the kind of goal you expect to see from a Guardiola side. Muller attempts to find Lewandowski in the box with a cross which is far too strong and Roberto somehow manages to get beaten by the ball as it finds the far corner. That's his seventh goal of the season for Bayern.

Dreadful from Salino, who does brilliantly to find space in the box by exchanging passes with Cambiasso but the move ends when he miscues a cross to send the ball straight to Neuer.

SAVE! Olympiacos threaten to get back on level terms as Elabdellaoui charges forward from the back before finding Ideye, who unleashes a shot from the edge of the box. It's comfortable for Neuer as he tips the ball over the crossbar.

Bayern enjoy a long spell of possession on the edge of the box and Thiago threatens to find Vidal's run with a lobbed pass. Roberto is slightly fortunate as he collects the ball at the second attempt under pressure.

SUB! Guardiola makes his first change of the night as Coman comes off the bench to replace Lewandowski, who has been quiet this evening.

Coman gets on the ball for the first time as he skips a challenge on the wing before dragging an effort wide from 25 yards.

SUB! Dominguez has found it difficult to get on the ball regularly tonight and he comes off to be replaced by Hernani.

Olympiacos are being urged to move further up the pitch by the home fans, but they are struggling to get close to the ball now as Alonso fires an effort wide which deflects off Muller, who was standing in an offside position.

Alonso really has been fantastic tonight. Bayern are playing the game like it's an afternoon in the park now as they move the ball with apparent ease before the Spaniard delivers a lobbed ball which almost finds Thiago, whose touch lets him down in the box.

SUB! Olympiacos make another change as Kostas Fortounis replaces Cambiasso. It is a change which suggests that the hosts may take a few more risks.

SAVE! Brilliant football from Bayern as Thiago plays a one-two to release Lahm, who pulls the ball back for Muller. The forward's first effort is blocked but he reacts quickly to test Roberto with a volley.

Lahm charges forward with the ball for 40 yards before playing in Costa, who should give it back to his skipper but loses possession with a poor touch to allow Masuaku to recover.

Bayern are looking very relaxed on the ball, despite being just one goal ahead. You have to admire the way they are managing this game. Olympiacos do not look threatening at all.

SUB! Frustration for Guardiola and Bayern as Alonso is forced off the pitch after clashing knees with Kasami. He has been the best player on the pitch this evening. Joshua Kimmich is his replacement.

SUB! Good football once again as Vidal and Coman link up before the latter fires a deflected effort wide of the target. Vidal then comes off to be replaced by Mario Gotze.

Olympiacos continue to struggle. The hosts have just been unable to retain possession for an extended spell in the second half and the ball keeps coming back at them. Bayern are in cruise control.

SUB! Pardo has drifted out of the game since the break and he comes off to make way for Seba.

CHANCE! It looked like Olympiacos were finished as soon as Bayern broke the deadlock, but the hosts have just missed a great opportunity to get back on level terms. A hopeful ball over the defence hits Alaba to play through Salino, who slices just wide from a great position in the box. He just had to hit the target. Guardiola is furious with his side.

Olympiacos appear to have grown in confidence after that missed chance, but they are struggling to find space to attack Bayern in the final third of the pitch. A long spell of possession is ended when Kimmich picks up a booking for a foul on Fortounis.

GOAL! OLYMPIACOS 0-2 BAYERN MUNICH (GOTZE)

Bayern clinch the win! Just as Olympiacos were threatening to make the final few minutes interesting, Bayern finish the game off. Coma makes a good run off the ball to collect the ball on the right before delivering a low cross to Gotze, whose fantastic first touch allows him to fire past Roberto. Superb from the substitute.

The fourth official confirms that there will be four minutes added on.

PENALTY! Excellent football from Coman on the break as he shows off his quick feet to invite the challenge from Masuaku, who leaves his foot out and trips the winger in the box.

GOAL! OLYMPIACOS 0-3 BAYERN MUNICH (MULLER)

Muller might have been lucky with his first goal, but he is composed from the spot as he sends Roberto the wrong way to wrap up the victory.

FULL TIME: OLYMPIACOS 0-3 BAYERN MUNICH

It's all over in Greece. Bayern pull away in the closing stages to start their Champions League campaign with a comfortable win. They are surely one of the teams to beat once again this year.

That's all from our live coverage. Thanks for joining Sports Mole this evening. Keep an eye out for analysis and ratings later tonight. Goodbye everyone.

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Bayern Munich's Spanish headcoach Pep Guardiola reacts during the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Bayern Munich vs Hamburger SV at the Allianz Arena in Munich, southern Germany, on August 14, 2015
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