Piraeus: Olympiakos held Barcelona to a surprise 0-0 draw in the Champions League, denying the visitors early qualification to the round of 16 from Group D.
Lionel Messi was stopped five times by goalkeeper Silvio Proto. The Catalans, dropping their first points in four matches, had two-thirds of the possession at Karaiskakis Stadium but failed to find the net in a Champions League group match for the first time in five campaigns.
The Greek champions, playing after three straight defeats in the Champions League, defended with real determination and settled for a point against a Barcelona side under their former coach Ernesto Valverde.
“Our aim was to win tonight and we had plenty of chances. It didn’t happen,” Valverde said. “Olympiakos was excellent defensively and their fans were tireless. I’m happy with my players. What counts is creating chances; if we do that, the goals will come.”
He thanked Greek fans for their warm reception, but added: “I got used to having the [Olympiakos] fans helping my players. Tonight they were opposing them.”
Barcelona lead Group D with 10 points, three more than second-place Juventus, who drew 1-1 at Sporting in Lisbon.
Olympiakos captain Alberto Botia, who joined Barcelona as a teenager, was a standout as a sweeper for the hosts, who improved after the break.
Proto stopped three shots from Messi in the first half, and kept up his heroics in the second, saving a shot from Luis Suarez in 72nd minute. A lob from Suarez eight minutes later bounced off the crossbar.
The Belgian keeper punched away a free kick from Messi two minutes before the end of regular time and again dived to block a powerful effort by the Argentine in injury time.
“It was hard work, but a good result, what we have to do now is keep fighting hard,” Olympiakos midfielder Panagiotis Tachtsidis said.
Olympiakos coach Takis Lemonis thanked fans who filled the stadium and cheered as the team bus made its way to the game.
“I appreciate that very much, especially after some difficult games in the league,” he said. “Of course Tonight’s result is good against a team like Barcelona. But there was a hope that we could have got something more.”
