Greek champions will make their debut performance in front of their crowd (tickets are sold out) after their return from Austria where they have been practising for over two weeks.For once more they made quite a few transfers aiming mostly on a good European challenge.They brought in:Tomislav Butina(g),Didier Domi(d),Michal Zewlakow(d),Abdeslam Ouaddou(d),Julio Cesar(d),Marco Ne(m),Felix Borja(a) while they are hot in the race for closing Brazilian star Ze Roberto as well international Greek striker Salpiggides.Coach for second concecutive season is Norwegian Trond Sollied,who prefers an attacking 4-3-3 formation with high pressure.Team has performed some very good friendly games,smashing Blacburn 5-0,Werder 4-0,and they key point for the coach is to find the balance with so many new comers in the team,especially in the defence,team's weak spot all these years.
Sosiedad has moved in a lot of transfers too,trying to escape from the mediocre last seasons in Primera.: Kovacevic (rejoins squad) Rossato (Sporting Braga - loan period ended) Fabio Felicio (Unión Leira) Juanito (Alavés) Claudio Bravo (Colo Colo) Gerardo (Málaga) Diego Rivas (Getafe) Ansotegi, Mikel González (junior teams),while they gave away also many players:Mark González (Liverpool - loan period ended) Viáfara (Portsmouth - loan period ended) Nihat (Villarreal) De Paula (Cádiz) Gabilondo (Athletic Bilbao) Xabier Castillo (Las Palmas - one year loan)Larrea (Almería - one year loan) Barkero (Albacete) Ximun (Eibar - one year loan) Boris (Numancia) Alberto (contract ended) Brechet, Cifuentes, Jauregi (transferable).Their preseason training took place in UK,whereby they lost by Doncaster and drew with WBA,Leicester and Huddersfield.Hose Bakero,the coach,has left back Spain few players mostly for relaxing purposes,including Kovacevic,Scubo,Aranburu and others.
Olympiakos is definetely most prepared,and in their first show in front of their fans they should take the win.
3.8.2006 20:45 Olympiakos Pireus - San Sebastian, Olympiakos Pireus @ 1.60 at Betandwin
source: www.betshoot.com