It was more of the same for David Moyes in Athens last night as Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell scored a stunning goal to leave Manchester United on the brink of an early Champions League exit.
Campbell has not kicked a ball for the Gunners since signing in 2011, but he showed superb quality to score the second goal in a straightforward 2-0 victory for Olympiakos.
Alejandro Dominguez’s clever backheel put the Greeks ahead in the first half and from then on Moyes’ team rarely looked like being able to get back into the first leg of this last-16 tie.
Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic had talked up United’s chances of winning the Champions League in the build-up to the match, but it was easy to see why Moyes’ side were 25-1 shots to land the trophy going into this match in the port suburb of the Greek capital.
Despite the hostile noise being belted out from the stands, United’s early showing did not indicate they would buckle under pressure as Olympiakos coach Michel suggested they would on Monday.
That was all to change.
Just as United started to settle into a rhythm, Olympiakos opened them up. Chris Smalling slipped and the ball made its way to Dominguez, who ran through on goal who was was only denied giving the hosts an early lead by a superb sliding tackle from Vidic.
What followed was a tepid 20-minute period of play.
United always took the safe option on the attack while Olympiakos pushed forward, meaning Rooney spent as much time in his own half as the opposition’s.
The only time United entered the home box, Robin van Persie was out-muscled by Kostas Manolas.
The overall quality of the game was poor but the home crowd remained almost deafeningly loud. And the decibel level rose again as Hernan Perez cut in from the left flank and fired a powerful drive which a relieved David de Gea watched hit the side-netting.
The energetic Dominguez blotted his copy book by play acting while trying to win a penalty, but he soon redeemed himself in the eyes of the noisy home supporters when he cleverly put Olympiakos ahead.
Maniatis took advantage of Evra’s weak clearance, driving at the United defence before unleashing a low shot which Dominguez diverted past De Gea with a clever backheel.
United hung on until half-time, but nine minutes after the break their troubles worsened as Olympiakos doubled their lead.
The finish – this time struck by Campbell – was another top-class effort.
The Costa Rican just about kept his balance after nutmegging Michael Carrick and he then curled a stunning shot around Rio Ferdinand and the sprawling De Gea from 20 yards.
The man on the loud hailer behind the home goal bellowed and the home fans demanded their team go in for the kill.
Michael Olaitan nearly obliged, firing a 20- yard shot just wide of a flat-footed De Gea. Moyes brought on Shinji Kagawa and Danny Welbeck but they could not make the difference.
United barely threatened thereafter.
Van Persie slammed a shot into the crowd from inside the box, but that was about it.
Olympiakos wanted the win more so they were not going to yield as easily as the away side had done earlier.
