Ahead of Rangers' meeting with Olympiacos in the Europa League, the Rangers Review surveys what Philippe Clement's side can expect to face in Athens.

Who is their manager?

Jose Luis Mendilibar is a Spanish former professional footballer who played in midfield, mostly for Sestao. He has managed LaLiga clubs Athletic Bilbao, Valladolid, Osasuna, Levante, Eibar, Alaves and Sevilla. He won the second division title with Valladolid in 2006–07 but has hit the heights in Europe, winning the Europa League with Sevilla in 2023 and the Conference League in 2024 with Olympiacos.

What type of form are they in?

Olympiacos also have six points from nine in the Europa League this season. They beat Malmo 1-0 in Sweden and Sporting Braga 3-0 at home after losing 2-0 to Lyon in France in their opening game. They were 2-1 winners against Panserraikos at home at the weekend, with goals from Norway winger Kristoffer Velde and Morocco striker Ayoub El Kaabi. The Greek side have won five and drawn three of their Super League Greece games and sit fourth in the table, three points behind leaders Aris.

What is their European pedigree?

Olympiacos are reigning UEFA Conference League champions and the only club from Greece to have won a major European trophy. They dropped down from the Europa League after securing third place in the group, finishing with seven points, and beat Ferencvaros, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Fenerbahçe and Aston Villa before claiming a 1-0 victory against Fiorentina in the final in Athens. El Kaabi scored an extra-time winner and finished top scorer in the tournament with 11 goals. He was in the team of the tournament along with David Carmo, Kostas Fortounis and Daniel Podence. One month previously, Olympiacos’ Under-19 team won the UEFA Youth League against AC Milan having previously beaten Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Nantes. They were the first team from Greece to play in Europe when they took part in the 1959–60 European Cup.

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Who are their key players?

Olympiacos are a team packed with internationals. Goalkeepers Konstantinos Tzolakis and Alexandros Paschalakis have both played for Greece, while captain Georgios Masouras is a regular. Velde represents Norway and El Kaabi Morocco, while New Zealand’s Marko Stamenic and Carmo, who plays for Angola, are both on loan at the club from Nottingham Forest. Former Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao midfielder Dani Garcia has represented the Basque Country. Ukraine striker Roman Yaremchuk scored against Scotland in the World Cup play-off semi-final at Hampden Park in June 2022, while experienced midfielder Sergio Oliveira is a Portugal international. One of the big names at the club is Willian, the former Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham winger, but the veteran Brazilian has been sidelined through injury recently, as has Turkey attacker Yusuf Yazici.