Can Manchester United overturn the 2-0 first-leg deficit?

Tuesday represented yet another low for Manchester United in their first season under the stewardship of David Moyes, as defeat to Olympiakos in the Champions League left their campaign in tatters.

With the Champions League the only feasible competition United can still win – with 15 points separating them from top spot in the Premier League and eliminations in the two domestic cups – they suffered a heinous blow in Greece as they went down 2-0 to Olympiakos, leaving them on the brink of an embarrassing exit to a side they have never tasted defeat to before.

But is this tie really as done and dusted as people are making it out to be? Our team at Squawka looks at the reasons why United can and can’t progress still past their Greek opposition and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

YES – Sam Parker

Its often said that 2-0 is the most dangerous lead a team can hold in a game of football – exactly where we are now.

There are several clubs which you would say would be unstoppable at his point, with the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona generally too astute to just give away such advantages, but Olympiakos can’t be mentioned in the same breath.

The last time the Greek giants reached the quarter finals of the Champions League was the 1998/99 season. They have always been brushed aside comfortably in the first knock-out round and on the rare occasion they’ve managed to progress beyond the group stage, they have not had the pedigree or the know-how to really defend a lead of such importance.

United will require no firing up for the second leg other than a glimpse at the scoreboard and Olympiakos are there for the taking if United can get their attacking talents firing on all cylinders.

The Greeks progressed as runners up in their group having conceded six goals in two games against Paris Saint-Germain, so they aren’t a defensive powerhouse and the likelihood of them coming to Old Trafford purely to protect their lead high, nearing on a certainty.

Olympiakos only completed 39% of their tackles in the first leg of this tie, so a more accomplished attacking display could allow United to overrun their, let’s be honest, relatively limited opponents.

It’ll have to be an all-out assault while ensuring they remain tight at the back as an away goal could prove fatal for their hopes of progression.

People will claim that United cannot function without the cup-tied Juan Mata have conveniently forgotten that the Red Devils netted nine goals in two games against Bayer Leverkusen, who currently sit in second in the Bundesliga, before Mata even joined.

As mentioned earlier, 2-0 is always a difficult lead to defend over 45 minutes against superior opponents and despite their recent woes, Manchester United are still a better team than Olympiakos.

If Moyes puts out his attacking gems out from the start and they all get on the same page, United should have no issues being able to overturn and extend upon a lead.

Olympiakos have suffered heartbreak on English soil before, as Steven Gerrard will testify. And we all know how Liverpool ended up faring in that competition in 2005…

NO – Sam Long

The Red Devils were not just below par on Tuesday night, they were dreadful. Dreadful as a team; the loss could not be shouldered by one or two culprits, the entire unit has to take responsibility.

The talismanic duo of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie failed to create anything up font, the midfield of Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley was as spineless as ever, while Rio Ferdinand and Chris Smalling gave a clinic in how not to defend.

An average Olympiakos side were deserving winners and caused Moyes’ side plenty of problems, despite selling their star striker Konstantinos Mitroglou to Fulham and the absence of Argentinian veteran Javier Saviola.

If United had managed to keep the deficit down to a single goal, they would have widely have been backed to still be in the tie, still favourites among others, but after Joel Campbell’s beautifully curled effort hit the back of the net, their hopes of progression went with it.

The rally cry that has been issued today is that Old Trafford has seen many great European nights throughout the years and the team are capable of a dramatic turn around in three weeks time. But this is not the resurgent, us against the world United that Fergie built, this is the crumbling empire that Moyes is struggling to hold together like a Jenga tower one block away from collapse.

United undoubtedly have the ability within their ranks to breach Olympiakos’ defence, but the key to the tie lies with the Greeks ability to find the net away from home. Moyes will have to set his set up for all out attack early in the game in order to go for the jugular and put their opponents under pressure – just as the Greeks did last night – but that will leave them exposed at the back.

Míchel’s side do not traditionally travel well but they have scored away from the comfort of Athens at every time of asking this season and if they can find a way past David de Gea once more then the tie will be beyond United. Even if United take the lead they will have to push for more goals and their frail midfield and defensive line will struggle to contain the Greek attack, who displayed no fear with their driving runs in the first leg.

United play with an edge of insecurity and fear at Old Trafford this season, the fortress has lost its aura and Olympiakos will arrive full of confidence, especially if the Red Devils challenge for the top four has been crushed at the same venue by fierce rivals Liverpool just a matter of days beforehand.

Their performances in the Champions League have been a highlight in a drab season for the reigning champions, until the last game. Failure to overturn the deficit will be the final nail in United’s coffin this year and the players do not look like they can handle the pressure. They have threatened to kick start their season after several positive results but have then suffered a setback soon afterwards.

Considering several of their number insisted they could pull off a shock in this year’s competition there was no fire in their bellies in Athens and even at home, with a manger short on European pedigree and frustrating dressing room with players lacking in quality and confidence United will fail to progress past the round of 16 for the third year in a row.