Olympiacos secured a commanding 39-30 victory over Finnish professional handball club BK46 at the Ilioupoli Indoor Hall, taking a significant step toward qualifying for the European Cup quarterfinals.
Under the guidance of coach Ricardo Trillini, Olympiacos seized control early in the match. After the 20th minute, the team gradually extended its lead, establishing a nine-goal advantage ahead of the second leg in Finland on 21 February.
Savvas led Olympiacos’ attack, scoring 12 goals and playing a decisive role in shaping the final score. Additional contributions came from Koun with six goals, Vida and Kaniete with three each, and Michailidis also adding three.
The first leg’s five-minute score intervals show Olympiacos consistently widening the gap: 2-3, 6-4, 10-7, 15-9, 20-12, 24-13 (half-time), 27-17, 30-20, 33-24, 36-25, 39-27, 39-30.
BK46 struggled to match Olympiacos’ intensity, with Sakinnen scoring 10 goals, Skimba seven, and Jonathan Ross four.
Olympiacos will aim to manage the nine-goal lead during the return match in Finland, with the outcome determining which team advances to the European Cup quarterfinals.
Lineups:
Olympiacos (Trillini): Diogo Valerio, Escalona 2, Koun 6, Vida 3, Tziboulas 1, Papantonopoulos, Kaniete 3, Kandylas, Tsanaxidis 3, Ivic 1, Moreno, Sourgiel 1, Manthos 2, Passias 2, Michailidis 3, Savvas 12
BK46 (Rönnberg): Heinonen, Skimba 7, Sioman 1, Lofgren, Carlson, Jonathan Ross 4, Sioblom, Vikstrom, Ivan Ross 1, Henrikson 6, Sakinnen 10, Dordlund, Scherbak 1
Referees: Di Domenico–Fornasier (Italy)
Red Card: Michailidis (35:42)
Two-Minute Suspensions: 3-2
Penalties: 3/4–2/2
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