Ajax 1–0 Olympiacos, Edvardsen decides it late
Your first pre-season defeat. Ajax 1–0 Olympiacos on Saturday, and substitute Oliver Edvardsen grabbed the winner in the 80th minute (4). Ajax now head into their Conference League qualifier with some momentum. For your team, it is a reminder that the real stuff is coming fast.
Popović the bright spot among the new faces
If you are looking for a reason not to worry: Popović. He was named MVP of the new signings after the Ajax match (5). The early report on Mendilibar's fresh arrivals singled him out. Pre-season friendlies are about finding who steps up, and he did.
Tzolakis close to Hull, Kotarski lined up
The keeper domino is moving. Konstantinos Tzolakis is nearing a move to Hull, and Olympiacos have identified Dominik Kotarski of PAOK as the replacement target (1). Copenhagen are also watching Kotarski. No deal done yet, but the framework is becoming clear.
Smaïlović on his pride and his fitness
New signing Smaïlović did not hide his feelings. "It is an honour to play for Olympiacos," he said, adding he expects to be at 100% fitness within a week (3). A player who gets the shirt and knows the clock is ticking.
Fan reactions
The mood on Reddit is calm, given the circumstances. Most fans noted it was a friendly and nothing to overreact to, though Edvardsen's name got plenty of attention for the tidy finish. One thread captured the vibe: Ajax were sharper in the final third, but nobody is hitting the panic button yet.
