PAOK 2-1 Olympiacos: Mendilibar's Mistakes Dig Hole Too Deep to Recover From | OneFootball

Paok vs Olympiacos 2-1 SLGR Playoffs: Giorgos Matthaios/EUROKINISSI

If Olympiacos are to be crowned Greek champions this season, it won’t be remembered as a march—it will be remembered as a grind. That much was clear on Sunday night at Toumba, where Razvan Lucescu’s PAOK handed José Luis Mendilibar’s Olympiacos their first league derby defeat of the season, a 2–1 result that was as much about tactical clarity as it was about hunger.

PAOK’s victory means Olympiacos will have to wait at least one more week to mathematically seal the title. They remain firmly in control of their destiny, needing only a draw against AEK at home next Sunday to clinch their first league crown since 2021/2022 season. But the performance in Thessaloniki left much to be desired—and even more to be questioned.

Disjointed and Disconnected

Mendilibar made several eyebrow-raising decisions with his starting XI, abandoning the formula that has served him so well throughout the season. With starting left back Francisco Ortega and captain Panos Retsos unavailable, the Spaniard opted for a lopsided 4-4-2 system that looked more like a back five in practice. David Carmo was reinstated alongside Giulian Biancone, while Lorenzo Pirola was pushed out to left-back—a role in which he has found only limited success.

The set-up appeared reactive from the start. There was no natural left winger, no clear link between midfield and the front two. Chiquinho was shunted wide left, and with Daniel Garcia and Hezze anchoring midfield, creativity was sorely lacking.

PAOK, by contrast, were sharp and aggressive from the first whistle. Lucescu’s team pressed early and capitalised on Olympiacos’s disorganisation. Just five minutes in, a flicked ball starting from a goal kick led to Giannis Konstantelias's opener. Carmo’s attempt at a challenge was weak then the subsequent defending by Biancone and Costinha was not enough to prevent Konstantelias from breaking through and finishing coolly. Olympiacos were stunned, and it would only get worse.

A corner in the 11th minute led to chaos in the box, as Mady Camara—PAOK’s top scorer from set pieces this season—found himself completely unmarked. Dani Garcia left him completely unmarked for his headed effort which added to his team leading free kick goal tally. Olympiacos were 2–0 down before they had even completed a pass in the final third.

Second-Half Adjustments—Too Little, Too Late

To Mendilibar’s credit, the changes at half-time were swift and largely correct. Gelson Martins and Bruno Onyemaechi were introduced to add pace and width, and suddenly Olympiacos began to resemble the side that has led the league for most of the season. The tempo increased. Possession was more purposeful.

The breakthrough came via Roman Yaremchuk, who had been one of the few bright sparks in the first half. His effort and cross into the box led to a deflection off of Giannis Michailidis which cut the deficit in half. His smart run behind the lines forced a red card from Camara, reducing PAOK to 10 men.

Despite playing the final 20 minutes with a man advantage, Olympiacos created precious little. The best chance fell to Yaremchuk off of a cross from Onyemaechi which he could not connect with and Ayoub El Kaabi was unable to salvage a second effort.

The final whistle left Olympiacos frustrated and PAOK jubilant. Lucescu’s tactical discipline had won the day, while Mendilibar’s deviations from the norm had undone his side before the match even had a chance to settle.

More Than Just Three Points

This loss doesn’t derail Olympiacos’s title charge. But it does illuminate some worrying patterns. This was the third time in recent months that the Piraeus giants failed to make their numerical advantage count. Against Steaua Bucharest in November and OFI in March, they also struggled to break down 10-man sides.

Too often, the solution has been to overload the box with crosses, rather than to break lines with incisive passing. Olympiacos launched 27 crosses in the second half alone—most from deep areas, and most easily dealt with by PAOK’s well-drilled back line. The lack of variety and patience in their attacking play, especially when trailing, is becoming a tactical Achilles heel.

Moreover, Carmo’s dip in form is now more than just a blip. He shared fault for the first goal and erratic in his positioning throughout, the loanee’s regression from last season’s aerial titan to a liability has been stark.

The Road Ahead

Olympiacos return to the Georgios Karaiskakis next Sunday with the clearest of objectives: win or draw against AEK and secure the Super League title. Do so, and Sunday’s misstep will quickly be forgotten. But fail, and the doubts raised in Thessaloniki will grow louder.

As for PAOK, the win restores some pride in a season where the title has slipped from their grasp, but they remain very much in the fight for second place. Lucescu’s men showed grit, structure, and a clinical edge—qualities Olympiacos will need to rediscover quickly if they are to avoid a nervy end to an otherwise impressive campaign.