OLYMPIACOS received a stunning heroes’ welcome from fans back home after sealing a historic qualification to the Europa Conference League semi-finals.
The Greek giants lost 1-0 to Fenerbahce in Turkey on Thursday but took the game to a dramatic penalty shootout thanks to a 3-2 victory in the first leg at Georgios Karaiskakis last week.
The visitors won 3-2 thanks to an incredible performance by 21-year-old goalkeeper Kostas Tzolakis who caught three spot-kicks by Dusan Tadic, Cengiz Under and finally Leonardo Bonucci.
Olympiacos are now set to compete in the semi-finals of a major European campaign for the first time in their near 100-year history.
Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side flew back to Athens during the early hours and landed at 3am.
The Piraeus outfit was then met by incredible scenes as about two thousand fans were out in force and set up a fiery welcome at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.
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The team walked through a sea of supporters who called for the club’s first ever European title.
A number of Olympiacos enthusiasts lit up flares, which set up an amazing atmosphere.
Tzolakis received special praise after his penalty heroics and even held one of the flares before boarding the team bus.
Club icon Youssef El Arabi, on the other hand, was spotted dancing with the fans.
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Mendilibar, who only took over as Olympiacos’ third manager of the season two months ago and immediately turned a torrid campaign on its head, also enjoyed immense recognition.
The Spaniard’s side is now set to lock horns with Aston Villa in the semi-finals with the first leg taking place on May 2 at Villa Park before they meet again a week later in Greece for a place in the final.
Villa punched their ticket to the final four after beating Lille 4-3 on penalties to become the only Premier League club left standing in Europe.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
