I think we also need to accept that the state of the Greek league is also playing a huge part here, why is it every year olympiakos can pull off huge results in the early stages of the CL? Wins over Arsenal, Juve, athletic Madrid etc don't lie, I believe it's because the players are switched on because it's the early stages of the league, the problem is when the title is all but won in December the players treat the league games like training sessions, sure they try hard but the pressure is off, they can muck around and know even if a result goes against them they are so far in front they have nothing to worry about, switching from easy relaxed league mode to cutthroat European action mode is a major step up and now very regularly this team seems to get caught with its pants pulled down around February because they aren't prepared for the step up in intensity and pressure that accompanies European football.