El Kaabi: passer and unlucky scorer against Real Madrid

With deep bitterness, Olympiacos suffered a 4-3 defeat at home after an epic battle against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi stood out as the heart of Thrylos’s heroic performance.

However, the evening had started on a high note for the Greeks, who managed to take the lead as early as the 8th minute. Following a superb collective movement, El Kaabi showcased his versatility by delivering a brilliant assist to Chiquinho, highlighting his essential role beyond just being a scorer. Unfortunately, this bright start was quickly overshadowed by the devastating power of Real Madrid and the relentless display from Kylian Mbappé, who scored four goals.

Despite the Madrid upheaval and Mbappé’s rapid hat-trick, Olympiacos showed admirable resilience. El Kaabi himself kept the flame alive in the second half. With the scoreboard showing a 2-4 advantage for the visitors, the Moroccan striker reduced the deficit to 3-4, scoring his team’s third goal in the 81st minute with a powerful and precise header. This achievement put enormous pressure on Xabi Alonso’s team, who felt the specter of equalization looming at the end of the match. Notably, on the Real Madrid side, Moroccan international Brahim Diaz participated in the game (73′) in place of Asensio.

The final minutes turned into a true ordeal for Greek supporters, as the equalizer seemed incredibly close. Fate cruelly played against El Kaabi in the 83rd minute. Already a scorer, he saw his attempt go just inches past the post, narrowly missing out on a well-deserved brace. A cruel twist of fate that denied him a second goal. Moments later, Gabriel Strefezza sent another shiver through the Madrid defense with a shot that was not far from Andriy Lunin’s crossbar (89′). These missed opportunities in the dying minutes sealed the score in favor of Real Madrid, leaving a bitter taste but also the pride of having pushed a European giant to its limits.