The battle lines are drawn as Krasava Ypsonas and Olympiakos gear up for a clash at the Gipedo Stelios Chari this January 12, 2026. With Ypsonas languishing in the relegation zone (13th place, 11 points) and Olympiakos struggling to stay clear of a mid-table mess (9th place, 17 points), this matchup feels more like a game of chess between two desperate opponents than a high-flying showdown. This isn't just about three points; it's about pride, survival, and potentially setting off a springboard for one team while the other sinks deeper into despair.
Predicted Lineups
Expect both teams to maintain their recent formations:
- Krasava Ypsonas: GK: Mislav Zadro, DEF: Irodotos Christodoulou, Luiyi de Lucas, Issam Chebake; MID: Patryk Lipski, Ivan Chavdarov Pankov, Nikola Trujić; FWD: Maxime Do Couto, Michalis Koumouris, Yevgen Budnik.
- Olympiakos: GK: Christos Talichmanidis; DEF: Henrique Gomes, Mauricio, Andreas Christou; MID: Leonidas Konomis, Orhan Dzepar; FWD: Vladimir Bradonjić, Iasonas Pikis.
Diving headfirst into each team's recent form reveals stark contrasts and compelling narratives. For Krasava Ypsonas, who've endured five matches without victory (3 losses and 2 draws), they find themselves on a slippery slope. Their last win was against Enosis on December 5-a narrow triumph that now seems like eons ago. With a paltry total of only three wins this season (that includes an absolute avalanche of eleven losses), they're not just on the ropes-they're practically dangling off the edge!
Now let's talk about Olympiakos. They've been lurking around the middle ground like a cat burglar who can't decide whether to stick around or bolt-five consecutive draws followed by that unfortunate thumping from Omonia Nicosia paints them as defensive stalwarts with serious scoring issues. It's almost like watching the Avengers trying to work together after they've had one too many drinks-lots of movement but no cohesion when it matters most.
And speaking of numbers-let's sprinkle some context onto these stats. Krasava Ypsonas has been producing an astonishingly low output in front of goal: zero goals scored in four of their last five matches! What's worse? Despite having reasonable spells of possession (averaging around 45%), their shot accuracy has been non-existent-resulting in underwhelming xG figures that leave fans questioning if anyone brought their shooting boots to the party.
Contrast this with Olympiakos' performance over similar games: although they've also struggled with finishing (0 goals in two of their last five matches), they've at least shown some ability to create chances-notching double-digit shots per game despite only converting them twice in those draws against lower-tier teams. They may have left empty-handed far too often lately but at least they're testing opposing keepers! It's kind of like being really close to breaking out in karaoke-lots of attempts but nobody wants to hear your rendition yet.
Let's break down some individual player performances because we know matchups often hinge on standout players finding their rhythm. The spotlight must shine on Nikola Trujić, who has had his share of good fortune recently albeit without finishing-zero goals despite decent playmaking involvement highlights his struggles to translate effort into results (his rating barely scraping above 6). On the other hand for Olympiakos, Iasonas Pikis is likely going to be pivotal here-as he boasts one goal already this season alongside an ability to stretch defenses thanks to his technical flair. The narrative here could very well be written by these two players if they find a way past shaky defenses.
So how do these tactical elements stack up? Well first off, Krasava needs goals more desperately than Superman needs sunshine. With poor passing percentages averaging below 60% across various games recently, they can't afford another lackluster outing against an Olympiakos side that's shown resilience if nothing else-even with their own midfield mix-ups causing headaches. If they're looking for salvation in this clash while pinning hopes on luck striking thrice from range shots... spoiler alert-they better think again!
For Olympiakos however-it all boils down to execution and belief rather than overwhelming talent alone. If they can sharpen up their passing accuracy and convert even half of those opportunities that land at striker feet near the box (a solid .20 xG ratio suggests they might see luck flip in their favor), then maybe they'll finally get that monkey off their back!
With all factors considered including both squad's overall intensity levels being tested throughout the contest-therefore my take is poised firmly toward Olympiakos snagging this crucial away win via late-game heroics orchestrated by Pikis sealing it with an exquisite finish amidst defensive lapses from beleaguered hosts ... probably happening somewhere between "what-the-heck" or "at-least-we-tried." So mark your calendars folks because come January 12th we might witness what could go down as either redemption for Olympiakos or further ignominy compounded upon Krasava Ypsonas-and isn't that why we tune into football after all?