Photo: Pixabay / Pexels
Hormiga Gonzalez scores late first-half equalizer for Olympiacos in Europa League debut
The 23-year-old Mexican forward rescued a point for Olympiacos against Jagiellonia Białystok in the club's return to European competition
Armando “La Hormiga” González picked a pretty good moment to introduce himself to European football. The 23-year-old Mexican forward netted the equalizer for Olympiacos in the 43rd minute against Jagiellonia Białystok on September 16, leveling the score at 1-1 heading into halftime of their Europa League opener at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.
It was González’s first appearance in any UEFA competition, and he made sure nobody would forget it quickly.
A rocky start turned rescue mission
Olympiacos found themselves trailing early after Jagiellonia’s Kajetan Szmyt opened the scoring in the 20th minute. For a club returning to the Europa League after missing the entire previous season’s competition, conceding first at home was not exactly the script the Greek side had in mind.
The forward, who arrived from Mexican club Chivas during the summer 2026 transfer window, pulled Olympiacos level just before the break. Before stepping onto the European stage, he had already found the net in the Greek Cup and recorded a brace along with an assist in domestic play.
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Why this match matters for Olympiacos
This fixture represented Olympiacos’ first Europa League match of the 2026/27 season, following a full year away from European competition.
New coach Imanol Alguacil took charge of the Greek club. Jagiellonia Białystok, representing Poland, came into the match as relative underdogs, with Szmyt’s 20th-minute strike demonstrating that Jagiellonia intended to compete.
González’s trajectory and what comes next
At 23, González transferred from Chivas to Olympiacos in summer 2026. His nickname, “La Hormiga” (The Ant), reflects a playing style built on relentless work rate and movement. His early production in Greece included scoring in the Greek Cup, delivering goals and assists domestically, and scoring in his Europa League debut.