Greece Secures First-Ever European Football Trophy as Olympiacos Wins the UEFA Conference League
Piraeus-based Olympiacos clinched the UEFA Conference League trophy with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Italy's Fiorentina in the tournament's final held in Athens. This marks not only the club's first European triumph but also the first major European trophy won by any Greek club, reports Flashscore.
Olympiacos, a powerhouse in Greek football with 47 domestic titles, has historically struggled to achieve significant success in European competitions. Despite not being favourites in the current UEFA Conference League campaign, the team's confident and cohesive play throughout the tournament, particularly in the semi-final against the main favourites, England's Aston Villa, ultimately led to their historic victory.
In the final, Olympiacos faced Fiorentina, another tournament favourite. The Florence-based team had reached the final of the UEFA Conference League the previous year, only to be defeated by England's West Ham United, and were hoping to claim the trophy this year.
The match began with attacks from Fiorentina, who managed to score early, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. After this, the game became more balanced, with both teams creating several dangerous opportunities, but neither side could break the deadlock in regular time.
During extra time, both teams played cautiously, aiming to avoid conceding a goal and hoping for a penalty shootout. However, in the 116th minute, one of Olympiacos' few attacks resulted in a goal. Moroccan striker El Kaabi scored with a header following a cross, leaving Fiorentina with no time to equalize. Thus, the Greeks triumphed 1-0 without relying on the fortune of a penalty shootout.
Meanwhile, The Gaze reported that Atalanta from Bergamo claimed the UEFA Europa League trophy with a 3-0 victory over Germany's Bayer Leverkusen. This victory marks a significant milestone for the Bergamo club, as it is their first major achievement on the international stage, having never won a European cup before.