Ibagaza hoping luck shines on Olympiacos

Having been eliminated from the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League group stage due to late events elsewhere on matchday six, Olympiacos FC are determined not to suffer the same fate this season.

The Greek double winners, who host FC Schalke 04 in their Group B opener on Tuesday, were on course to reach the last 16 until news filtered through that Olympique de Marseille had scored twice at the death to win 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund, snatch second place and send the Piraeus club into the UEFA Europa League.

Ariel Ibagaza, a quarter-finalist in 2009 with Villarreal CF, is hoping fortune is on Olympiacos's side this time around in a section also containing Arsenal FC and debutants Montpellier Hérault SC. "We will try to do well – it's an interesting group," the 35-year-old midfielder told UEFA.com.

"Our fans will support us well, and we as players need to be prepared to perform well. We hope to have that necessary bit of luck, too, to qualify for the next round."

To hear more from Ibagaza, including his thoughts on Olympiacos's new coach Leonardo Jardim, click on the video above.