Europa League: Burnley Face Uphill Task After Eventful First-Leg Defeat Away To Olympiakos (Photos & Video)

Alan Duffy

23rd, August 2018

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Burnley face a tough challenge to book their place in the group stages of the Europa League after an eventful 3-1 defeat away to Olympiakos.

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Sean Dyche’s side came into the first leg play-off game knowing they were in touching distance of the Europa League proper.

However, they found themselves a goal down after 19 minutes, with man of the match Kostas Fortounis scoring via a fine free-kick.

Playing in front of a hostile home support, the Clarets managed to get themselves back into the game just after the hour-mark, with Chris Wood converting a penalty after the striker himself was felled in the box.

The second-half got off to a bad start for the Premier League side, with Fortounis’ free-kick headed home by Andreas Bouchalakis.

Things got even worse for the visitors just before the hour-mark, with summer-signing Ben Gibson sent off for handling the ball in the box.

Captain Fortounis fired home the resulting penalty to put the Greek side 3-1 up.

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Late on, Sam Vokes thought he had got one back for Burnley, only to be goal to be ruled out for offside.

The game would in a deserved 3-1 win for the Olympiakos, who travel to Turf Moor next week well in the driving seat.

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The Clarets are by no means out of the tie, but one wonders how much their early European adventures will affect their domestic season, whatever happens in the return leg.

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