Luis Palma made his return to Olympiacos’ starting XI tonight against AEK Athens, but it wasn’t the most eventful of performances for the Honduran winger. The game ended in a 2-0 defeat for Olympiacos away from home, but the real story lies in the bigger picture.
For Palma, it was a bit of a strange evening. After playing predominantly on the left-wing during his time at Celtic, he was deployed in an unfamiliar role on the right-wing tonight. It’s not the position he’s used to, but the 25-year-old was still determined to make an impact. Substituted in the 81st minute, Palma worked hard to adapt to his new role but couldn’t get his side a positive result in what was a frustrating night. However, his performance was not will define his loan spell; instead, it was the crucial aggregate scoreline that saw Olympiacos book a place in the Greek Cup final.
Olympiacos are 10 points clear at the top of the Greek Super League, and the chances of Palma picking up silverware this season are looking highly likely. It’s clear that the club’s ambitions are growing, and Palma, who has shown flashes of brilliance since joining on loan from Celtic, could be a key part of that success.
Looking ahead, the potential for a permanent move is on the cards. Palma is currently on loan from Celtic, but Olympiacos hold a reported £3.3 million release clause, giving them the option to buy him outright in the summer. Given the possibility of silverware and a more prominent role within the team, it’s hard to imagine Olympiacos letting him go if he continues to show his value. For Celtic, this could be a positive, as Palma failed to really become a regular starter after a positive start to life in Glasgow.
In the end, while it may not have been the best individual performance from Palma tonight, his chances of achieving a league and cup double are growing. Should he lift the Greek Cup and Greek Super League, a permanent move in the summer seems increasingly likely.
