Olympiacos: The midfield picture after Hezze’s injury, who carries the load and who completes the quartet
With Santiago Hezze out for at least six weeks with a knee ligament injury, Freuler and Puerta will carry Olympiacos’ midfield, while Scipioni and 19-year-old Christos Filis wait for their chance.
Olympiacos failed to beat PAOK in the derby. The big match at Faliro ended 1-1, and on top of dropping two points, the red-and-whites also lost Santiago Hezze. The Argentine midfielder, who came off in the 56th minute, suffered a medial collateral ligament injury to his knee.
Hezze is expected to be out for at least six weeks, meaning he could miss all of Olympiacos’ remaining games in 2026 and return in the new year. As he is a key part of the midfield rotation, Imanol Alguacil will now have to manage his options carefully.
Santiago Hezze
midfielder
OlympiacosvsIraklis·Nov 22, 2026, 5:00 PM
Freuler and Puerta to carry the load
Hezze’s absence means the pairing of Remo Freuler and Gustavo Puerta will be used even more often. The Swiss midfielder has become a fixture at the heart of the team, bringing experience, composure under pressure and precise passing. No midfielder has played more minutes in the Super League this season, with 635 so far. Puerta will be his main partner, and the Colombian will be expected to step up even further.
In fact, under Alguacil, Freuler and Puerta already form the midfield pair in league games, with Hezze rotating in for European matches.
Who completes the quartet?
Freuler and Puerta will need some rest, though, with Super League, Europa League and Greek Cup matches making for a packed schedule.
One option is 21-year-old Argentine Lorenzo Scipioni, who has barely featured under Alguacil, playing only a few minutes in the Greek Cup. He is not on the European squad list, and Olympiacos cannot make changes to it, but Hezze’s absence could give him a chance to prove himself in domestic games.
The other is 19-year-old Christos Filis, one of the club’s most promising prospects. He has started all three of Olympiacos’ Greek Cup games, impressing each time, and is a regular on the bench in the Europa League. He looks the most likely player to complete the midfield quartet. Alguacil could also reshuffle the pack by moving a more attacking player, such as Chiquinho, into a deeper role.
Olympiacos
Greece
OlympiacosvsIraklis·Nov 22, 2026, 5:00 PM
Challenge Zone
0 games available
From Category
Panathinaikos: Winter reinforcements – the three positions the Greens are targeting
Four points clear going into the break, Panathinaikos are already planning for January: Neestrup wants a winger who can play on both flanks, a dynamic central midfielder and a left-footed centre-back.
Pochettino ready to take over at Manchester United, and the club will once again have to pay millions
Manchester United’s directors fly to Monaco to push Sir Jim Ratcliffe to sack Michael Carrick, with USA coach Mauricio Pochettino the frontrunner to replace him and a $10 million release fee to pay.
Alisson admits he wants to stay and is negotiating a new Liverpool contract
Alisson says he wants to stay at Liverpool and confirms his agent is in talks over a new deal, with his contract running out next summer and Mamardashvili waiting in the wings.
Unstoppable Brighton roll on as Igor Thiago sees red
Diego Gómez’s stunner and a Pascal Gross penalty lift Brighton to second in the Premier League, as Igor Thiago’s VAR red card leaves Brentford without a single shot on target.
Champions League Round 5 Preview: Manchester City Host Napoli in High-Stakes European Clash
As UEFA Champions League Round 5 arrives, Manchester City look to cement a top-eight spot against SSC Napoli, while Arsenal host Borussia Dortmund in a classic blockbuster.
The Champions League’s top scorer is a billiards ace inspired by Ronaldo
Six goals in 246 minutes have put Como’s Anastasios Douvikas ahead of Kane, Mbappé and Haaland. Meet the billiards-loving striker who idolises Ronaldo Nazário, yet still can’t hold down a starting place for Greece.