Anthony Evgenidis

Dread, fear, fortress, deafening, imposing, daunting and unshakeable are some of the trembling words opposing managers have echoed over the years during their turbulent passage through Karaiskaki Stadium. 

The stadium gets its name from Greek hero Georgios Karaiskakis, who was fatally wounded in the area during the Greek War of Independence. The initial stadium was used as a velodrome during the 1896 Athens Olympics. Renovation took place in 1964, and it was rebuilt from scratch in 2004 just in time for the 2004 Athens Olympics. The 4-star rated football stadium’s capacity is a humble 33,334 all-seater. Whatever you do, do not, repeat, do not let that number fool you. At Karaiskaki it feels like you are surrounded by 300,000. The seating and angles inside create a feeling of intimacy, where you feel as if you are next to the players.
 
Karaiskaki is strictly a football only stadium and that setup differentiates it from the overbearing Olympic Stadium. Many of the Olympiacos players themselves have repeated what a true advantage it is to play in such a football only stadium.   
 
This season so far Olympiacos have played 13 games at Karaiskaki in all competitions, and their record is a perfect 13 wins from 13 games. That 100% record at home is anything but hospitable to visiting teams. If you look at the 16 teams that have progressed in the Champions League, none of them have a home record that comes close to that of Karaiskaki. Out of those teams, Manchester United and Liverpool are the only ones yet to lose at home in all competitions. Even these two teams have dropped points at their own ground, which include three and five draws respectively. It would not be farfetched to say that Karaiskaki is one of the very best home field advantages in Europe. This year it is difficult to argue against it or even to find a better home fortress.

Many things have been said about Karaiskaki such as, that it is the closest thing to a guaranteed victory for a team, that teams and referees alike are scared to death in there, and finally that any team in the world can be beaten in that stadium they call a fortress. Here are some recent words from opposing sides who have visited Karaiskaki, and one from a future visitor.

Quique Flores (Benfica, manager) “I have prepared my players for what they will face on the pitch. It’s a tough home field with fiery fans”. The final score was 5-1 for Olympiacos. 

Jaroslav Drobný (Hertha Berlin, Goalkeeper) “The fans stand behind their team like a wall and create tremendous commotion. The atmosphere in the game with Galatasaray is nothing compared to what is expected in Piraeus”. The final score was another lopsided win, 4-0 for Olympiacos.

Alain Perrin (Saint Etienne, manager) “I know their stadium very well and that the atmosphere there is particularly hot. We have the advantage of playing for qualification in the second game which will be held at our home ground”. Olympiacos and Saint Etienne will face each other in the UEFA Cup Round of 32. 
    
What can an imposing home stadium and dominant record do for a team? More than anything else it equals guaranteed points. Teams know going into Karaiskaki that points will be hard to come by, much less the precious three that everyone covets. Karaiskaki has proven to be a very reliable refuge for Olympiacos when their backs are against the wall. They can always count on their fans to give them that extra needed boost.

It is no coincidence that Olympiacos stands solely and firmly atop the Greek Super League this year. Their away record is nothing to be proud of with a mere two wins, three draws and one loss. What has set them apart from the rest of the pack is their record at home; all the other teams on several occasions have dropped crucial points at home. There are certain games that you are supposed to win, and the majority of those games are in your own stadium.

This season in Europe, Olympiacos have only managed two goals away from home, and both those goals came against a weak Danish representative, Nordsjælland. Their away record is hideous with one win and three losses, and yet despite that they have qualified for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. Home form is what gives optimism to the team in Europe, knowing that they can beat any team in their stadium. We hear many times that a team is flying and soaring on the pitch, well, in Karaiskaki this has become the norm.  

This season the goals Olympiacos have scored at home stands at a whooping 37 for, and only five against. That’s an average of nearly three goals per game, and only conceding a goal every two to three games. A plus 32 goal difference certainly validates the notion that no score is safe going into Karaiskaki. In six home games this season three or more goals have been scored, that’s practically half the games. Opponents have not yet scored more than a single goal at Karaiskaki this season, not to mention that two of the five overall goals conceded were from the penalty spot.   
     
There are plenty of stadiums across the globe with catchy self-proclaimed names such as “Hell”, “Theatre of Dreams” and “Stadium of the Dragon”. Karaiskaki Stadium has never had a nickname or related designation. What Karaiskaki poses to visiting teams cannot be justly articulated, and in fact, that bafflement may just serve as the ultimate compliment.