Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome offered Olympiacos another testing European night, and the Greek side left the French coast with a 1-0 victory over Olympique de Marseille in the second round of the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League league phase. Santiago Hezze’s first-half header settled the contest, although Mexican forward Armando “Hormiga” González endured a difficult late moment after missing the chance to put the result beyond doubt.
Olympiacos had already found their rhythm in the competition and made it two wins from two, reaching six points and moving into 10th place in the overall table. Their success came from a familiar European formula: withstand the atmosphere, take a set-piece opening, then defend the narrow margin through a tense closing spell.
Hezze supplies the decisive moment
The visitors struck three minutes before the interval. Chiquinho delivered a corner into the Marseille penalty area and Hezze, the defensive midfielder, rose amid the crowd to guide a diagonal header past the home goalkeeper. It was the only goal of a match in which Olympiacos had to protect their advantage for much of the second half.
González was introduced in the 67th minute as Olympiacos sought fresher legs in attack and a possible second goal. The Mexican was handed exactly that opportunity in the 87th minute when Panagiotis Retsos sent him through on goal. Positioned centrally in the box, González tried to finish left-footed, but his effort went straight at the goalkeeper, who saved low to his left.
Marseille pressed for an equaliser during stoppage time, yet Olympiacos held firm. González’s missed opening did not change the outcome, but it added an uneasy note to an otherwise valuable away performance as the Piraeus club continued its strong start to the European campaign.
