Olympiacos Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Ortega (Popovic) · Ortega (TBD(Onyemaechi)) · Pirola (TBD(Smajlović)) · Carmo (Restos) · TBD(Maffeo) (TBD(Saliakas)) · Mouzakitis (TBD(Scipioni)) · Hezze (TBD) · Silva (Roca) · TBD (Luiz) · Chiquinho (TBD(Yazıcı, Fortounis)) · Clayton (TBD(El Kaabi, Yaremchuk))

Olympiacos favors a direct and high pressing style of football through a 4-2-4 formation. This lineup focuses on overwhelming the opposition in the final third and using aggressive numbers to win the ball back high up the pitch. The goal is to create constant pressure and use the width of the pitch to stretch the defensive lines.

Ortega plays between the posts to organize the defensive unit. The back four operates as a flat line where Maffeo acts as an attacking full back on the right side to push high and provide width. Carmo and Pirola act as the central defensive pairing, with Carmo looking to win the headers and Pirola providing cover. Ortega holds the left side to balance the defensive block. This unit aims to squeeze the space between the lines and set the offside trap to keep the opposition from playing through the middle.

The midfield functions as a double pivot to provide balance and cover the gaps left by the advancing full backs. Hezze acts as the primary engine, pressing aggressively to win the ball back and driving the play forward. Mouzakitis sits alongside him to shield the defence and recycle possession when the team needs to slow the tempo. This pair connects the back four to the heavy front line, ensuring there is always a link to progress through the thirds.

In the attacking phase, Olympiacos utilizes four attackers to pin the last defender of the opposition. Chiquinho and Clayton operate as a central partnership, where one can act as a pressing centre-forward while the other looks to find the feet of the striker or run in behind. Silva stays wide on the left to stretch the defence, while the right winger stays high to create a constant threat. This formation is built to attack in combinations and uses the width to deliver crosses into the box or create space for runs in behind.

One major advantage for Olympiacos is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, using the front four to trigger a press immediately upon losing the ball. The heavy presence in the final third creates numerical superiority against a standard four man back line. Additionally, the team can exploit wide overloads when Maffeo overlaps the winger to create two on two situations on the flank.

This 4-2-4 formation is a high risk, high reward system designed for aggressive attacking. It is best suited for games where the team needs to break down a deep low block or dominate an opponent through sheer intensity.