Juve’s Roberto Pereyra (right) battles for the ball with Alessandro Longhi, of Sassuolo.

Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez Gago has stressed the importance of his team returning to winning ways in the UEFA Champions League when they host Juventus tonight.

The Greek outfit lost 2-0 at Malmo last time out having previously won their Group A opener 3-2 against Atletico Madrid.

Olympiakos lie fourth in the standings, level on three points with all three group rivals after two games played.

With last season’s runners-up Atletico favourites to win the pool, Jimenez Gago is aware his team need to see off the Italian champions to enhance their chances of a top-two finish.

“We are going to give everything to beat Juventus,” the former Atle-tico Madrid goalkeeper said.

“This game is very important and we cannot fail. We came close to reaching the quarter-finals last season and we want to reach that stage this time around.

“Juventus is a top club just as Atletico but in our stadium, we can beat anyone.”

Olympiakos have lost just two of their previous 10 Champions Lea-gue home games and have beaten the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal in Piraeus in recent years.

Stadium effect

“The Karaiskakis stadium is a little bit like Atletico’s Calderon stadium,” Gago said.

“The fans help the team and we really feel they can give us a hand. We know we are not the strongest team in the competition and that is why we need the support of our fans and they deliver.”

The hosts head into the encounter in buoyant mood after Saturday’s 3-2 win at Ergotelis lifted them to third place in the league, three points adrift of leaders PAOK.

Juve, meanwhile, have never lost to Olympiakos in Greece but the Bianconeri have fallen in four of their last five away games in Europe’s elite club competition.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side travel to Greece after seeing their perfect run in Serie A come to an end in a 1-1 draw at Sassuolo. The outcome saw Juve’s lead at the top cut to one point after seven games.

“We’ve taken a step back but we are ready to get back on track,” Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci said.

“Now we face a Champions League final and I think this game arrives at the right time for us. We will go to Athens hungrier than ever.

“Atletico have lost there but we only have one thing on our mind and that is to win.”

With Fernando Llorente struggling with a back problem, Allegri is set to hand Spanish striker Alvaro Morata his first start. He will play alongside Carlos Tevez in Juve’s attack.

The Italians will be bolstered by the return of Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, who missed the clash at Sassuolo on Saturday.