Stoltidis double fires Olympiakos into knockout stage

Ieroklis Stoltidis scored twice to steer Olympiakos Piraeus to a 3-0 win over Werder Bremen on Tuesday that sent the Greek side through to the Champions League knockout stage.

The midfielder grabbed his first for the home side in the 12th minute when his low shot from outside the area flew past Werder keeper Tim Wiese.

The German side dominated for much of the match but paid for a series of missed chances when Darko Kovacevic headed in Olympiakos' second in the 70th minute.

Stoltidis made certain of the win four minutes later to guarantee his side second place in Group C behind Real Madrid, who beat Lazio 3-1. Werder's consolation is a place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.