Olympiakos made history in Athens by becoming the first Greek team to win a major European trophy. Ayoub El Kaabi scored four minutes before the end of extra time to seal a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final, held at the AEK Arena in Athens.
The Moroccan striker, pivotal in Olympiakos’ journey to the final, delivered the decisive blow by heading in Santiago Hezze’s cross. This goal not only ignited wild celebrations among the Olympiakos supporters but also withstood a prolonged video assistant referee (VAR) check, confirming El Kaabi’s 11th goal of the tournament and cementing Olympiakos’ historic achievement.
Reflecting on the victory, a source close to the team said, “El Kaabi’s goal has etched his name into Olympiakos folklore. The atmosphere was electric, and this win is monumental for Greek football.”
For Fiorentina, it was another year of heartache, having lost the previous season’s final to West Ham, courtesy of a last-minute goal by Jarrod Bowen. Despite their storied history and experience, Fiorentina was unable to overcome the determined Greek side.
Olympiakos started the match with vigor, fueled by their passionate fans who had traveled from Piraeus. The game, however, saw both teams struggling to create clear chances in a tightly contested first half. Daniel Podence, on loan from Wolves, forced Fiorentina’s goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano into a fine save early on, while Giacomo Bonaventura missed a key opportunity for Fiorentina.
The Italian side displayed their attacking prowess in the second half when Dodo set up Christian Kouame, only for his poor finish to be cleared by Olympiakos’ goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis. As the match extended into extra time, it seemed penalties would decide the outcome.
However, El Kaabi, who had previously scored five goals in the semi-finals against Aston Villa, rose to the occasion once more. His late goal ensured Olympiakos’ victory, ending Fiorentina’s hopes of redemption and marking a significant milestone for Greek football.
The match took place at the home stadium of Olympiakos’ rivals, AEK Athens, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the occasion. This victory also marks only the second time a Greek team has reached a European final, with Panathinaikos being the first in the 1971 European Cup final.
