As Greek club Olympiakos aims to clinch its first European trophy, a substantial security operation will be in place in Athens for Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina.
More than 3,000 police officers will be on duty for the game, with the AEK Arena surrounded by security measures that will halt traffic, close local schools, and even ban food deliveries north of the Greek capital.
If Olympiakos secures the trophy, there could be celebrations on the streets despite a disappointing domestic season. The team has gained momentum in the third-tier European competition after eliminating Fenerbahce and Aston Villa in previous rounds.
Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi leads the competition’s scoring charts with 10 goals, while coach Jose Luis Mendilibar has brought stability to the team after becoming its third manager of the season.
Mendilibar, 63, guided Sevilla to the Europa League trophy last season and intends to maintain the team’s high-pressing playing style in the final.
“I can’t make miracles happen overnight,” Mendilibar said. “I’m not a miracle worker, I’m a coach. My goal is to present my team in the best way possible and hope for the best outcome.”
Fiorentina returns to the final after losing to West Ham in last year’s title match. They have dominated most of their knockout games and scored the most goals in the competition with 25.
Coach Vincenzo Italiano stated that his team will apply the lessons learned from last year’s final to their approach in Athens.
“We never give up in games,” Italiano said. “The difference this year is that we understand the journey we’re on, the challenges we face, and the significance of the match. We come into the game with a bit more experience.”
