Ayoub El Kaabi shines amid Olympiakos defeat to Barcelona, matching historic Moroccan record

Ayoub El Kaabi struck a solitary goal as Olympiakos endured a 6-1 thrashing against FC Barcelona in the Champions League, a result that nonetheless saw the Moroccan forward reach a remarkable milestone in his country’s football history.

The match at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc was a punishing one for the Greek champions.

Barcelona, still smarting from their recent loss to Paris Saint-Germain, responded in emphatic fashion.

Fermin López stole the spotlight with a brilliant hat-trick, Marcus Rashford added a brace, and teenager Lamine Yamal converted a late penalty to complete the rout.

El Kaabi’s goal came in the 54th minute, when he calmly converted a penalty to make it 2-1, offering a fleeting moment of hope for the visitors.

But any chance of a comeback was quickly extinguished after Olympiakos were reduced to ten men just four minutes later, allowing Barça to dominate the closing stages.

Despite the heavy defeat, El Kaabi once again demonstrated his precision and composure in front of goal — traits that have made him one of Morocco’s most dependable strikers.

That strike carried special significance. According to Stats Foot, it drew El Kaabi level with Youssef En-Nesyri as Morocco’s joint-top scorer in European club competitions, with both players now boasting 24 goals.

It is a feat that underlines El Kaabi’s enduring impact on the continental stage.

At 32, the forward has built a career defined by persistence and progression.

From his early days at RS Berkane and Wydad Casablanca to spells in Turkey with Hatayspor and in Qatar, his journey to Olympiakos has been one of steady ascent.

Since joining the Greek club two years ago, he has become their attacking focal point, finishing as the Europa League’s top scorer last season with seven goals and continuing his prolific form this campaign with five goals and an assist in ten appearances across all competitions.

El Kaabi now stands on the verge of outright history.

A goal against PSV Eindhoven — where his compatriots Ismael Saibari and Couhaib Driouech feature — on 4 November would see him become Morocco’s sole record-holder for European goals.

For Moroccan football, his achievement is more than statistical.

It reflects the persistence of a player who has carried his nation’s colors with consistency and pride across multiple leagues.

As Morocco prepares to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, El Kaabi’s form offers hope that his scoring prowess will continue to inspire both club and country.