UEFA Champions League 2015-2016: Giroud’s hat-trick takes Arsenal to Last 16
Saturday, December 12, 2015
On Wednesday, English football club Arsenal F.C. defeated Greek Olympiacos F.C. 3–0 in a UEFA Champions League group stage match played at Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus.
Arsenal had a greater ball possession. The match saw four yellow cards. Two yellow cards for both the sides with a total of 27 fouls committed in the match. Konstantinos Fortounis was the first man to be booked in the 9th minute. In the 18th minute, Aaron Ramsey was yellow carded. Later, in the 29th minute, Ramsey assisted Olivier Giroud and the Frenchman scored the first goal of the match. The Gunners needed a win bigger than 0–1 in order to advance to the Last 16 knockout round of 2015–16 UEFA Champions League. The first half ended in 0–1.
In the 49th minute, Giroud scored the second goal, assisted by Joel Campbell. Giroud was booked for his foul in the 63rd minute. Omar Elabdellaoui committed a handball in the penalty area and was yellow carded in the 66th minute. Arsenal was awarded a penalty kick. Giroud successfully converted the penalty into a goal, completing a hat-trick for his first time for Arsenal. The match ended 0–3 and Arsenal qualified for the Last 16. Olympiakos, standing third in the group table, qualified for the UEFA Europa League.
Giroud was awarded the man of the match.
| Position | Club | Played | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayern Munich | 6 | 16 | 15 |
| 2 | Arsenal F.C. | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | Olympiakos F.C. | 6 | -7 | 9 |
| 4 | Dinamo Zagreb | 6 | -11 | 3 |
| December 9, 2015 | |||
| Olympiakos F.C. | 0–3 | Arsenal FC | Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus Attendance: 31,388 Referee: Nicola Rizzoli, Italy |
| 9′ Kostas Fortounis 66′ Omar Elabdellaoui | (0–1) HT | 29′ Olivier Giroud 49′ Olivier Giroud 67′ (pen.) Olivier Giroud 18′ Aaron Ramsey 63′ Olivier Giroud |