JIM: A special game

Juan Ignacio Martinez praised his Levante players for their ‘deserved’ 3-0 win over Olympiacos in the Europa League.

The Valencians recorded a convincing 3-0 first leg win in the Round of 32 on Thursday evening at Ciutat de Valencia, thanks in part to Djamel Abdoun’s red card for the visitors on the half-hour mark.

Pedro Rios, Javier Barkero and Obafemi Martins netted the goals, whilst Martins also missed the penalty that Abdoun conceded when picking up his dismissal.

“We would never have imagined such a favourable outcome, but next week we will prepare for the second leg knowing the risks and the danger of Olympiacos, because they are a championship team, highly experienced and 90 minutes can provide for many things, as seen here in this game,” Martinez reflected at the end.

“We’ve had that bit of luck, that a rival as difficult as this one was reduced to 10 men in the first half.

“It is true that we could have scored more, but we were able to get three in the end and just one of the most positive aspects of the game has been not conceding any goals.

“The players deserve the result because they train and work to their best during the week. It was a special game for everyone, a party, one we have waited for for a long time and that fortunately we were able to enjoy.”

Tags JIM Juan Ignacio Martinez Olympiacos
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