Team news

Makoun wary of Rubin threat Olympiacos midfielder Jean Makoun has targeted an early goal to give his side breathing space in their Europa League last-32 tie against Rubin Kazan.

The Greek side came away from the first leg in Russia with a 1-0 advantage last week thanks to David Fuster's goal and Roy Carroll's penalty save.

The advantage was hard won, and Makoun is certainly taking nothing for granted as his side prepare for the decisive match in Piraeus.

"The first game's result definitely gives us an advantage but it does not secure the qualification," Makoun told the club's official website.

"We must be cautious and I believe that an early goal would make things easier for us." While Fuster's 71st-minute goal earned Olympiacos their advantage, it was Carroll who was the hero.

The 34-year-old former Manchester United goalkeeper produced a match-saving penalty stop with his first touch on his debut for the club after coming on as a substitute following Balazs Megyeri's red card.

And they continued their good form with a 2-0 win over Panionios at the weekend, a match in which Makoun scored and starred.

That was their fourth Super League league win in a row, a run which has put them within two points of leaders Panathinaikos.

The top two play in Athens next month and, while that match is very much on the players' minds, Makoun knows they must stay in the present.

"It will be a turning point," he said. "Everybody's waiting for it and so are we.

"However, we must stay focused and serious prior to this game." The more immediate challenge is from a Rubin side who have been short of football of late.

The first leg was their first competitive match since the group stage because of the winter break in Russia.

Coach Kurban Berdyev felt their lack of action contributed to their defeat last in week's game.

Olympiacos vs Rubin Kazan

Last modified 22:52 23/02/12

Olympiacos glide into next round Rafik Djebbour headed the only goal of the game as Olympiacos moved into the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League with a 1-0 win over Rubin Kazan giving them a 2-0 aggregate victory.

The Algerian striker's 14th-minute goal gave Ernesto Valverde's side their sixth straight win in all competitions and built on last week's excellent display in Russia, where they won by the same scoreline despite going down to 10 men.

A bright start was exactly what the Greek side wanted to ease the pressure and that was exactly what they got as they forced a succession of corners in the Kazan half and threatened an opener.

It duly arrived with less than a quarter of an hour played when a foul by Salvatore Bocchetti gave the hosts a free-kick on the right flank. Ariel Ibagaza sent in the set-play and Djebbour rose highest to nod home from six yards.

Kazan keeper Sergei Ryzhikov had to be alert to pluck a dangerous Kevin Mirallas cross out of the air while Ibagaza's set-pieces continued to cause problems for the static visiting defence.

Mirallas drove just wide from the edge of the box in the 33rd minute then David Fuster - scorer of the winner last week in Russia - should have done better when he headed just wide from 12 yards.

Vladimir Dyadyun shot wide for Kazan in first-half injury time and Obafemi Martins forced a fine save out of Olympiacos keeper Roy Carroll, who saved a penalty with his first touch for the club in the previous match, with a 51st-minute drive.

Martins, who had been booked, was substituted for Alan Kasaev on the hour but the frustration was growing for the visitors, with only Bebras Natcho's accurate set-pieces posing any kind of threat.

At the other end, Jean Makoun drilled just wide from 18 yards as the Greeks tried to finish the contest, and the same player curled a shot over the bar 15 minutes from time.