Sport Hassan gives Olympiakos late win against Marseille

PIRAEUS, Greece (AP) — Ahmed Hassan came off the bench to score an injury-time goal for Olympiakos in a 1-0 win over Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday.

© Provided by Associated Press Olympiacos' Kouka, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Marseille during the Champions League group C soccer match between Olympiakos and Marseille at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium in Piraeus port, near Athens, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

© Provided by Associated Press Olympiacos' Kouka, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Marseille during the Champions League group C soccer match between Olympiakos and Marseille at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium in Piraeus port, near Athens, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The Egyptian delivered a powerful header to beat goalkeeper Steve Mandanda after Mathieu Valbuena's cross.

Marseille: "" Rubirola is there ", but we don't know if she will be there tomorrow"

An article in Le Monde is fueling rumors about a possible resignation of Michèle Rubirola before the end of her mandate © CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP La Mayor of Marseille Michèle Rubirola POLITICS - An article in Le Monde feeds rumors about a possible resignation of Michèle Rubirola before the end of her mandate On the fourth floor of a building in La Canebière, in the discreet premises of the Marseille resource center , around twenty people surround Michèle Rubirola.

© Provided by Associated Press Olympiacos' Youssef El-Arabi, left, runs with the ball in front of Marseille's Pape Gueye, centre and his teammate Alvaro during the Champions League group C soccer match between Olympiakos and Marseille at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium in Piraeus port, near Athens, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The Greek champions held the initiative for most of the match at Giorgos Karaiskakis stadium and had a goal disallowed by video review after Giorgos Masouras had found the net in the 52nd minute.

© Provided by Associated Press Marseille's goalkeeper Steve Mandanda saves the ball next to Olympiacos' Youssef El-Arabi during the Champions League group C soccer match between Olympiakos and Marseille at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium in Piraeus port, near Athens, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

“This is a special night for me. It’s my first game in the Champions League and I scored a goal,” Hassan said. “It is five years ago to the day that I lost my father so I dedicate this game to him. I am very happy but am also filled with emotion.” Marseille, returning to Europe's top club competition after a six-year gap, had looked happy to settle for a point in the Group C match. The visitors' best chance came from Dario Benedetto moments after the restart. His effort was stopped at close range with some quick reflexes from goalkeeper Jose Sa. “We weren’t aggressive enough. I think that was key for us,” Marseille defender Jordan Amavi said. “We woke up in the game too late. We did have chances. But in the end, we didn’t do enough to create anything concrete.” Olympiakos normally relies heavily on its boisterous home support but the country’s prime minister intervened this week to cancel plans to allow a limited number of fans back into soccer stadiums following a record spike in COVID-19 infections. Taking a risk-averse approach to its opening game, Olympiakos fielded Youssef El-Arabi as the lone striker. The Moroccan missed a string of first-half chances but paired well with the newly returned left-back Jose Holebas who carried the ball forward. Manchester City won the other Group C match against Porto, with a 3-1 victory at home. ___

Valbuena ignites for OM, his "club of heart"

Mathieu Valbuena, who wore the colors of OM for eight years (2006-2014), does not restrain his emotions when he finds the club phocean. © Panoramic Mathieu Valbuena Marseille While hosting Olympique de Marseille with Olympiakos in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, Mathieu valbuena made a declaration of love in due form against from his former club: "Marseille is my whole life. My daughter was born there, I still have my home there.

© Provided by Associated Press Marseille's head coach Andre Villas-Boas gives instructions to his players during the Champions League group C soccer match between Olympiakos and Marseille at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium in Piraeus port, near Athens, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

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