Olympiacos vs Fiorentina LIVE!

Olympiakos beat Fiorentina 1-0 after extra time in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday to win the club's first major European trophy, thanks to a late winner from Ayoub El Kaabi.

In a match that was high on intensity and physicality but low on quality in front of goal, neither side could find the net in the regulation 90 minutes before El Kaabi netted the winner in the 116th minute.

With the game seemingly headed to a penalty shootout, El Kaabi got in front of his marker to bundle in Santiago Hezze's cross but the players and fans had a long, nervous wait for VAR to check for offside before the goal was awarded.

The result marked a second consecutive defeat in the Europa Conference League final for Fiorentina, who had reached this season's summit clash without losing a single game.

Olympiacos vs Fiorentina latest updates

• GOAL! EL Kaabi wins it in extra time!

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You can read our match report here.

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Jovetic is interviewed and makes a point to mention former club Fiorentina, wishes them well. It’s a nice touch.

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The engraver is hard at work. Quite a few letters to get through.

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This is such a great competition, allowing teams like Olympiacos to have nights like this.

West Ham last year, too.

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Incredible scenes in Athens.

Full-time!

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126min: That’s it! Olympiacos have won the Europa Conference League!

History is made as the Fiorentina players collapse to the pitch.

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124min: A little over 90 seconds to go. Spare a thought for Fiorentina, who look set for more Europa Conference League final heartbreak.

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123min: El Kaabi has come off and the party is beginning early in Athens.

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121min: El Kaabi gets booked for his celebration but he doesn’t care. He has the biggest grin on his face.

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120min: It counts! Olympiacos are on the brink of a first European trophy!

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119min: The goal is still being checked by VAR for offside...

GOAL!

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116min: Well, well, well! El Kaabi may have won it in the final minutes for Olympiacos!

The cross in from the left is not perfect, but the striker gets in front of the defender to head home!

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113min: The Fiorentina end is bouncing as the corner comes in... but again is wasted... until Jovetic is released on the counter, and wins a free kick.

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111min: Jovetic continues to be busy in the opposition half but his team-mates continue to struggle to find him.

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109min: Almost an opening for Ikone after a lovely control and pass from Barak, but the former hesitates in the area and the Olympiacos defender gets a boot in to clear.

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107min: Podence has made way for Masouras for Olympiacos.

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106min: Right, any danger of any goals?

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106min: Half-time in extra time. They could play for another 106 minutes and not score.

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105min: So many tired players out there.

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103min: Podence looks for El Kaabi in the area with a delightful little cross, but Fiorentina head clear.

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100min: El Kaabi has been woeful tonight. Gets on the end of a Horta free kick but isn’t really troubling the keeper.

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99min: Terracciano Gonzalez tries an overhead kick facing towards the corner flag and about 18 yards from goal. He’s also landed awkwardly. Bizarre decision.

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97min: Corner comes to nothing.

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96min: Finally a shot on target as Jovetic carves open an inch and forces Terracciano into a superb one-handed save to his left.

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95min: Now substitute keeper Paschalakis is booked. It’s livening up at least!

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94min: Deary me. A break down the left from Olympiacos and Jovetic is in acres of space on the edge of the area - but the attempted pass from El Kaabi is easily cut out.

It’s so poor and Jovetic gets booked for complaining about a possible hand ball.

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93min: Bit of a more lively restart from Fiorentina as Ikone looks to work some space and let fly.

Extra time

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91min: Ortega is replaced by Quini for Olympiacos... and we’re back up and running.

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It’s not been the end-to-end goal-fest we were promised. Will extra time produce a bit more spice?

End of 90 minutes!

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98min: We’ll have extra time.

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96min: ...which they do, straight into the arms of the keeper.

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95min: Quatra handles the ball and then lets the ball bounce out of play. Chance for Olympiacos to punt the ball forward...

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93min: You can almost feel the nerves. So many overhit passes, wrong decisions and tense touches.

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91min: Seven minutes added on.

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88min: Duncan has a very bold attempt from 35 yards, which sails over. Extra time beckons.

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84min: Jovetic is wiped out by Dodo, who walks away with a bit of a sheepish smile. The free kick is floated in and El Kaabi stretches but cannot make contact.

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82min: Two more changes for Fiorentina. Ikone and Barak are on for Kouame and Bonaventura.

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80min: Best chance of the game so far! Substitute Horta whips in a superb free kick, which Iborra meets with a strong header but can only see his effort fizz the wrong side of the far post.

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78min: Another change for Horta replaces Chiquinho. It’s a chess game.

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75min: And now Duncan is on for Fiorentina, replacing Arthur.

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73min: Jovetic is on for Olympiacos, formerly of Fiorentina of course. Fortounis makes way.

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70min: ...which comes to nothing.

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69min: Kouame should score! Finally Fiorentina string some passes together and it falls to the striker, who completely mishits his shot... which almost balloons over the keeper, but instead they must settle for a corner.

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66min: So close to a first opening for Nzola as Gonzalez spots the sub’s run and goes for a ball over the top but Olympiacos are able to intercept.

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63min: Belotti’s game is done. Nzola is Fiorentina’s first change.

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62min: Podence has been involved in everything and this time he’s hit the deck after attempting a thumping volley, and gets clattered in the process.

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60min: An hour gone and if only the action on the pitch match the lively scenes in the stands.

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58min: Heart in mouth time as Podence is poised in the Fiorentina area waiting for the cut back as Milenkovic slips at the worst moment... but his team-mate is able to mop up.

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57min: Belotti is inches away from gobbling up a hopeful ball from Dodo into the area, but slips before he can make a proper connection.

He’s not been great tonight. So far.

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54min: Chiquinho’s delivery is straight into the hands of the keeper.

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53min: Perhaps not, he’s going to struggle on as Podence makes tracks up the other end of the pitch to force a corner.

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52min: I don’t think Retsos is going to continue. He is signalling to the bench.

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50min: A break in play as Retsos is assessed after a clash.

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47min: Belotti hits the deck claiming a trip, but it was more likely that he fell over his own feet.

Second half!

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46min: Back underway. No changes.

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Here come the teams.

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Second half to come. Any changes at the break?

I think both managers will keep their powder dry as there’s no guarantee this gets settled inside 90 minutes.

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After a lively start, the rest of the first half struggled to match the tempo.

Fiorentina probably just about edged that, but we’re already looking at going the distance.

Half-time

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47min: That’s your lot for the first half!

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46min: One minute added on.

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44min: Quatra now into the book for a clumsy tackle on Podence.

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43min: Olympiacos finishing this half the stronger, but chances are at a premium.

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40min: Almost an opening for El Kaabi! The ball over the top doesn’t quite settle for him and the opposition keeper clatters right into him trying to clear.

Both men are down but should be fine to continue. Brave from Terracciano.

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37min: It’s all got a bit tense as half-time approaches. A bit less flowing.

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34min: Podence is so lively, he’s been missed at Wolves this season.

He races down the wing, beats his defence but not the offside flag.

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32min: My word. Tzolakis runs out of goal and gets down low to head a clearance away.

Impressive, yes. Risky, double yes.

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29min: Podence is the first man booked, for a rash tackle on Dodo. Early frustrations perhaps?

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28min: Olympiacos should be ahead! El Kaabi is finally found in some space inside the area and tries to turn the defender, but his first touch is frankly woeful and Fiorentina can easily mop up.

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25min: The first corner is fluffed but the second corner almost produces a goal as Podence produces a smart flick at the near post which Terracciano does brilliantly to get down low to save.

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23min: Corner to Olympiacos after Chiquinho’s shot is deflected wide.

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20min: Podence time and again looking for El Kaabi in the middle but it’s just not working at the moment. El Kaabi has a remarkable 15 goals in Europe this season.

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18min: Fiorentina are starting to turn the proverbial screw. Olympiacos struggling to get their passing game going under pressure.

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15min: You’re not going to score doing that. Fiorentina’s Biraghi sends a corner over everyone’s head and out of play.

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12min: The place has somewhat cooled - it wasn’t hard to be fair - with Fiorentina enjoying more of the possession again.

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9min: Milenkovic thinks he has given Fiorentina an early lead, ghosting in to tuck home a corner, but he’s clearly offside.

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7min: Neither team sitting back. This is already shaping up to be a cracker.

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4min: Huge chance, and it falls to Olympiacos as Chiquinho sends Podence sprinting down the left. He cuts inside, takes on one defender and lets fly from the edge of the area... forcing a fine one-handed save from the keeper.

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2min: Fiorentina with the early possession, pushing Olympiacos back into their own half.

Kick-off!

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1min: Here we go!

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The teams are out. We are seconds away.

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The atmosphere is pumping in Athens. Not long to go now.

Olympiacos do not have history on their side

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We spoke about how Fiorentina have history to make tonight, looking to avoid a fifth defeat to six European finals, but Olympiacos also have weight on their shoulders.

Tonight they are looking to become the first Greek side to win a major European trophy, and you must say will have few better chances as they contest the showpiece on home soil.

But, that may not prove the blessing it seems. The last four teams to compete in a European final in their home nation ended up losing.

Fiorentina to bring bitterness to second final

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Fiorentina will use the pain of last year's defeat in the final to win tonight, says manager Vincenzo Italiano and captain Cristiano Biraghi.

Jarrod Bowen's 90th-minute winner denied the Italians last season, and the head coach says his team have matured 12 months on.

"The only thing that's different is that we've already experienced certain things," Italiano said. "We have a bit of experience, we carry that with us and we have to show it. We can't make any mistakes, we must stay alert and focused.

"Last year we didn't have a good ending, we'll bring that bitterness to make it end differently."

Biraghi, who was struck by a cup thrown by opposition fans during the game, added: "There was general bitterness, ours and those who had come to Prague.

"We all want to change a result that we didn't deserve last year. Unfortunately we made a few more mistakes than West Ham and we were rightly punished. We want revenge and to take this trophy away with us."

Team news in full

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Olympiacos XI: Tzolakis, Rodinei, Retsos, David Carmo, Ortega, Hezze, Iborra, Chiquinho, Podence, Fortounis, El Kaabi

Subs: Paschalakis, Papadoudis, Andre Horta, El-Arabi, Alexandropoulos, Quini, Masouras, Joao Carvalho, Jovetic, Richards, Apostolopoulos, Ntoi

Fiorentina XI: Terraciano, Dodo, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, Biraghi, Bonaventura, Arthur, Mandragora, Gonzalez, Kouame, Belotti

Subs: Christensen, Lopez, Beltran, Ikone, Ranieri, Nzola, Infantino, Faraoni, Duncan, Kayode, Parisi, Barak

Fiorentina XI

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...and the Italians!

Olympiacos XI

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Here we go!

Mendilibar: Olympiacos to treat Conference final like every other game

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Olympiacos are 90 minutes away from making history, but they will approach the Europa Conference League final with Fiorentina in the same manner as their previous matches, manager Jose Luis Mendilibar said on Tuesday.

Mendilibar's side can make history by becoming the first Greek club to win a European trophy, but this doesn't mean the manager will change his way of thinking.

"We have to stay calm and relaxed and do what got us to the final. To change anything would be a mistake," Mendilibar told a press conference ahead of Wednesday's game in Athens.

"We have to treat this game like any other, because that's how we managed to get to the final."

Match odds

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Olympiacos to lift the trophy: 23/20

Fiorentina to lift the trophy: 13/20

Odds via Bet365, subject to change.

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The Olympiacos fans are not messing around. Still an hour and a half until kick-off.

Olympiacos vs Fiorentina prediction

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This game has all the ingredients for a thrilling finale, with high-scoring Olympiacos backed by what is expected to be a largely Greek crowd, taking on a Fiorentina team desperate to avoid back-to-back showpiece defeats.

Olympiacos either score a shedload or lose, it appears, having lost to the likes of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Fenerbache in the knockout stages before thumping Aston Villa 6-2.

Fiorentina, remarkably, have not lost since their opening game of the competition way back in August. Can they make amends for last season's defeat to West Ham in the final? We think so.

Fiorentina to win, 2-1.

Predicted lineups

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Predicted Olympiacos XI: Tzolakis; Rodinei, Retsos, Carmo, Ortega; Hezze, Horta, Chiquinho; Podence, El Kaabi, Fortounis

Predicted Fiorentina XI: Terracciano; Dodo, Milenkovic, Martinez, Biraghi; Mandragora, Arthur; Gonzalez, Beltran, Kouame; Belott

Fiorentina team news

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Fiorentina’s big decision comes in midfield too, as Giacomo Bonaventura makes his case to start the final.

Arthur Melo, Rolando Mandragora and Lucas Beltran are perhaps best placed to form up in the centre of the park.

Vincenzo Italiano is only without the injured winger Riccardo Sottil and unregistered Gaetano Castrovilli, who is only just back from a long-term knee injury.

The Italians boast a settled line-up, spearheaded by Andrea Belotti up front.

Olympiacos team news

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Olympiacos are pondering whether to hand Vicente Iborra a starting berth or holding the 36-year-old in reserve to appear off the bench in Athens, which would keep Andre Horta in the team.

Francisco Ortega’s spot in the line-up is also in doubt due to injury and former Nottingham Forest left-back Omar Richards is primed to step into the team should he miss out.

A number of Olympiacos players are unregistered for the Conference League, including Nelson Abbey, a January signing from Reading, and veteran winger Gelson Martins, both of whom were on the bench for their draw at Panathinaikos on the final day of the Greek league season.

Former Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetic came off the bench to score in that game but will be back among the substitutes against Fiorentina.

Chiquinho will return from a domestic suspension.

Where to watch Olympiacos vs Fiorentina

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TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7pm BST for an 8pm kick-off.

Live stream: The final will be free to watch online via the Discovery+ app and website.

Welcome

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Good evening and welcome to the Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Europa Conference League Final.

It’s Olympiacos vs Fiorentina in Athens as the European domestic season nears its conclusion.

The Greek giants are playing just 10 miles from their own stadium, so perhaps a touch of home advantage at play this evening - though, as I will explain later, that is not always a positive.

Fiorentina have reached their second Conference League final in a row, looking to make amends after losing to West Ham 12 months ago.

Kick-off is at 8pm BST. Stick with us.