Champions League
Atletico Madrid +115, 2 unit
Yes I know this smells like a good fade spot on Atletico, and although Olympiakos were amazing last year (28-2-4, 88 For, 19 Against in Super League), the early returns say they might not be as good as they were last year. In addition to losing Joel Campbell, I think the bigger issue is they've lost two key defenders from last year's squad. Left Back/Winger Jose Holabas and center back Kostas Manolas were key players for that team last year and they were both snatched up by Roma in the summer transfer window. Another CB Ivan Marcano also played a role last year and he is gone to Porto. The replacements? Two Frenchmen at the opposite ends of their career: At Left Back it's 20-year old youngster Arthur Masuaka who came over from Valenciennes and has a long way to go before he reached the level of Holabas. This will be his first Champions League match. At centerback it's 35-year old Eric Abidal who is a couple years past his prime as a rotational/backup defender for Barcelona. He played at Monaco last year and showed clear signs of slowing down. Another new centerback in the squad is Alberto Botia. Atletico are familiar with him as Botia has bounced around relegation battlers in Spain the last few years. He's been apart of defenses that Atletico have been torching in Spain.
- Atletico Madrid went 4-2-0 in the Champions League last year away from home, beating Porto (2-1), Austria Wien (3-0), AC Milan (1-0), and Chelsea (3-1) with draws vs Zenit (1-1) and Barcelona (1-1).
- Olympiakos have lost their Champions League home opener three years in a row to Olympic Marseille in 2011, Schalke in 2012 and PSG in 2013.
I understand those thinking "Big upset now tough road spot" But I think this Olympiakos team (defensively atleast) is a solid step below where they were last year and Atletico is going to come out of their with a victory.
Atletico Madrid +115, 2 unit
Yes I know this smells like a good fade spot on Atletico, and although Olympiakos were amazing last year (28-2-4, 88 For, 19 Against in Super League), the early returns say they might not be as good as they were last year. In addition to losing Joel Campbell, I think the bigger issue is they've lost two key defenders from last year's squad. Left Back/Winger Jose Holabas and center back Kostas Manolas were key players for that team last year and they were both snatched up by Roma in the summer transfer window. Another CB Ivan Marcano also played a role last year and he is gone to Porto. The replacements? Two Frenchmen at the opposite ends of their career: At Left Back it's 20-year old youngster Arthur Masuaka who came over from Valenciennes and has a long way to go before he reached the level of Holabas. This will be his first Champions League match. At centerback it's 35-year old Eric Abidal who is a couple years past his prime as a rotational/backup defender for Barcelona. He played at Monaco last year and showed clear signs of slowing down. Another new centerback in the squad is Alberto Botia. Atletico are familiar with him as Botia has bounced around relegation battlers in Spain the last few years. He's been apart of defenses that Atletico have been torching in Spain.
- Atletico Madrid went 4-2-0 in the Champions League last year away from home, beating Porto (2-1), Austria Wien (3-0), AC Milan (1-0), and Chelsea (3-1) with draws vs Zenit (1-1) and Barcelona (1-1).
- Olympiakos have lost their Champions League home opener three years in a row to Olympic Marseille in 2011, Schalke in 2012 and PSG in 2013.
I understand those thinking "Big upset now tough road spot" But I think this Olympiakos team (defensively atleast) is a solid step below where they were last year and Atletico is going to come out of their with a victory.
