Olympiacos released a statement warning their supporters about what was not allowed to be brought into the London Stadium, from knives to brass knuckles, machetes to chains, fireworks to lasers.
Perhaps they should have added Lucas Paqueta to their long banned list as he was at his most dangerous in this Europa League revenge mission for West Ham.
It was the 26-year-old Brazilian who plays like a boy on the playground and took the hosts to victory, two weeks after the defeat against Olympiakos in Athens.
West Ham didn’t care how their Greek opponents celebrated that 2-1 win. Naturally, VAR’s confirmation that their goal was good meant that Paqueta led the rush to the end. They waved in front of the visiting supporters, bathed in their revenge.
West Ham remain top of Group A with two games to go, and with unpredictable playmaker Paqueta in the team you never know what will happen next.
West Ham defeated Olympiacos 1-0 on Thursday evening to top their Europa League group
It was Lucas Paqueta who found the back of the net in the 73rd minute to secure the victory
It was James Ward-Prowse’s ball into the penalty area that caught most people’s attention
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David Moyes didn’t have to think long about his pre-match team talk. It will have focused on the celebrations in their opponents’ hallway, outside their dressing room, at the Karaiskakis Stadium a fortnight ago. Moyes made six changes from the weakened team that lost that reverse fixture, bringing in Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen.
Said Benrahma also started, although his standards have dropped of late. Supporters have hardly chanted his name this season and two stupid mistakes within five minutes made you wonder if we were in for another frustrating evening from the 28-year-old Algerian.
However, in the 13th minute he collected Paqueta’s pass and curled one towards the postage stamp of the goal, forcing Olympiacos goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis into a super-diving save. From the subsequent corner, Nayef Aguerd’s header could not beat Paschalakis.
There was deja vu in the 32nd minute when the same sequence was repeated. Once again Paqueta went to Benrahma.
Once again he forced Paschalakis into a save, this time low on the left. Once again West Ham won a corner. Once again Aguerd’s header was not good enough to go in.
There was silence at the London Stadium as Daniel Podence, the winger on loan from Wolves to Olympiacos, fired a warning shot. It was cut so wide that it was as worrying for Westfield Shopping Center as West Ham’s goal, but it was a reminder that the visitors could strike at any time.
However, David Moyes was not happy with their performance in the first half of the match
He was seen calling for more intensity and aggression from the Hammers in the first half
Paqueta ended the first half with, well, Paqueta, performing a few keepie-uppies until he was cut down by his marker. Sometimes the Samba star can frustrate Moyes to no end, but my word for it, he knows how to keep us hooked on his every move.
With Freiburg beating Backa Topola elsewhere, West Ham were no longer top of Group A of the Europa League in the live table. Bowen did his best to liven up this affair, nutmegging his man before crossing to James Ward-Prowse as his effort was met by Paschalakis.
In the 73rd minute, West Ham celebrated when Paqueta hit Ward-Prowse’s ball over the top. Nice assist, nice finish, but the assistant’s flag was raised. The VAR checked it and to the naked eye it looked like Francisco Ortega played him. Moyes had seen the replay himself and was sure of it. Then came the confirmation: 1-0 for West Ham.
The entire team sprinted towards the away fans. Revenge for their opponents’ overzealous celebrations two weeks ago? Absolutely, and West Ham loved it.
Said Benrahma started on Thursday night, even if his standards have dropped of late
After scoring, the entire team sprinted towards the away fans. Revenge for their opponents’ overzealous celebrations two weeks ago? Absolutely, and West Ham loved it