In a historic showdown on Wednesday, Olympiakos secured their place in Greek football lore by clinching the Europa Conference League title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fiorentina in extra time. The match, held at the home of local rivals AEK Athens, witnessed Moroccan forward Ayoub El Kaabi etching his name in the annals of the sport with a decisive goal in the 116th minute.
Under the guidance of manager Jose Luis Mendilibar, Olympiakos displayed resilience and unity throughout the tournament, epitomized by midfielder Santiago Hezze’s remark, “Mendilibar has made us a strong team. He told us we have to play as a family.”
The encounter began with both teams displaying remarkable intensity. Olympiakos’ Daniel Podence tested Fiorentina goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano early on, while Andrea Belotti squandered a promising opportunity for the Italian side. Despite Fiorentina’s efforts, Olympiakos’ goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis proved to be a formidable obstacle, denying several goal-scoring chances.
As the match progressed, Olympiakos veteran Vicente Iborra came close to breaking the deadlock with a header from a free-kick, only to be thwarted by Fiorentina’s defense. With regulation time failing to yield a breakthrough, the game headed into extra time.
Tension gripped both sets of fans as the match appeared destined for penalties until El Kaabi’s pivotal header off Hezze’s cross electrified the stadium in the 116th minute. Despite a VAR check validating the goal, the euphoria among Olympiakos faithful was palpable, marking a historic moment for the club.
Reflecting on the victory, Olympiakos’ Stevan Jovetic expressed his pride, stating, “Amazing. For Olympiakos and me. Really proud of my guys. We did great all year and deserved it.” Jovetic, a former Fiorentina player, also acknowledged the Tuscan side’s valiant efforts, lamenting their consecutive defeats in Europa Conference League finals.
For Fiorentina, it was a bitter pill to swallow, as they fell short in their quest for European glory for the second consecutive year, following their defeat to West Ham in 2023.
As the celebrations ensued in Athens, Olympiakos etched their name in Greek football history, capping off a remarkable journey with a maiden European title triumph.
