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Journalism of Courage
Olympiakos Piraeus winger Jaouad Zairi has told Girondins Bordeaux to expect a red-hot reception from the crowd in Tuesdays Champions League last-16 first leg. The atmosphere in the Karaiskakis Stadium is boiling hot, said Moroccan Zairi. Our supporters are fanatics and are literally our 12th player. Such support can turn a match. We have already beaten Arsenal at home this season and we will give everything to win on Tuesday.
However the Greeks are up against one of the Champions Leagues form teams. Laurent Blancs swashbuckling side are top of Ligue 1 and dropped just two points in the group stages of Europes elite club competition,conceding only two goals.
Olympiakos,who are coached by Serbian Bozidar Bantovic,have an unblemished home record in this seasons competition following 1-0 victories over AZ Alkmaar and Arsenal and a 2-1 win over Standard Liege. They will be without Diogo and Luciano Galletti but midfielder Dudu,is expected to return from injury.
Bordeaux will be well rested after the French League allowed them to postpone their Ligue 1 game at the weekend. Their only absentee is injured midfielder Alou Diarra. Defender Matthieu Chalme said his team must forget the atmosphere likely to be generated by the home supporters. We must not fear the atmosphere Olympiakos fans can create, he said. We have got our fans used to victory. We have no right to fail now.
