AEK and Atromitos locked in close battle for third
With the Super League entering its concluding phase, the battle for third place is beginning to heat up, as AEK attempt to protect their slim advantage over Atromitos.
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This isn’t what AEK had hoped for. Boasting the status of reigning Greek champions, AEK wanted to successfully defend their Super League crown, but a season full of problems has left the Kitrinomavri languishing in a distant third place of the standings. Last week, the Athenians had to beat Olympiacos in Piraeus to give themselves a realistic chance of UEFA Champions League football in the 2019/2020 season, but they contrived to lose 1:4. AEK now trail second placed Olympiacos by a large eight points with nine matches remaining.
AEK’s main goal in the Super League now has to be clinging on to third spot. At the moment, AEK possess a slim one-point advantage over Atromitos, with the two teams set to meet in Peristeri on March 17 in what could be a decisive meeting in the race for a place on the Super League podium.
Damir Canadi is once again defying the odds with Atromitos. Despite having a modest squad at his disposal, the wily Austrian coach is squeezing the maximum out of his committed players, keeping the Peristeri club within striking distance of AEK. Recently, Atromitos went through a rough patch and Canadi was reportedly close to leaving, but they’ve recovered with three consecutive wins against AEL, Levadiakos and PAS Giannina. Prolific striker Efthymis Koulouris, on loan from PAOK, has led the charge with a huge 15 goals in the campaign.
Let’s take a look at the final nine matches of the 2018/2019 Super League season for both AEK and Atromitos:
AEK
Apollon Smyrnis (H)
Aris (A)
Panathinaikos (H)
Atromitos (A)
Panetolikos (H)
Xanthi (A)
Lamia (A)
AEL (H)
Levadiakos (A)
ATROMITOS
Asteras Tripolis (A)
Panionios (H)
PAOK (A)
AEK (H)
Olympiacos (A)
Apollon Smyrnis (H)
Aris (A)
Panathinaikos (H)
OFI (H)
On the face of it, AEK have the slightly easier run-in. Unlike Atromitos, the Enosis don’t have to play Olympiacos or PAOK, although they will host Panathinaikos in a crucial derby on March 9 at the Olympic Stadium. AEK’s upcoming three successive games against Aris, Panathinaikos and Atromitos will go a long way as to deciding the fate of third place in the table.
Third place of the Super League standings could grant a place in the third qualifying round of the 2019/2020 UEFA Europa League (instead of the second phase of qualification), however, this depends on the winner of the Greek Cup. Incidentally, AEK will soon play Atromitos in the second leg of the cup quarter-finals, leading 1:0 from the first match at the Peristeri Stadium.
