AEK gunning for solid advantage over stuttering Aris 
 

GREEK FOOTBALL CUP - SEMI FINAL (LEG 1)

AGONAsport previews the first leg of the Greek Cup semi-final between AEK and Aris at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.

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AEK are on a mission. Since Massimo Carrera replaced Nikos Kostenoglou as head coach in early December, the Kitrinomavri have vastly improved in all aspects of the game, most notably fixing the previously leaky defence. Taking into account that AEK trail first-placed Olympiacos by 15 points in the Super League, the Greek Cup is the Athenians’ only chance of claiming silverware this season, and their players have openly stated that winning the competition is their main goal.

However, while AEK are the favourites to advance to what would be a fifth consecutive Greek Cup final, Aris are no pushovers whatsoever.

Boasting a strong squad with the likes of Javier Matilla, Giannis Fetfatzidis and Brown Ideye on their books, Aris possess plenty of potential, often causing their opponents problems with their pace and intensity. Nevertheless, while Aris are certainly capable of matching AEK on their day, they are not going through a particularly pleasant period. Overall, Aris have only won one of their last six games across all competitions, and they contrived to finish in sixth position of the Super League regular season after suffering two successive home losses to AEK and Atromitos in Thessaloniki.

Aris, who will host the second leg at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium in April, will be looking to score a potentially decisive away goal at the OAKA. AEK, for their part, will hope to produce a solid defensive performance after a somewhat shaky showing against Panionios at the weekend.

In the 2019/2020 Super League regular season, Aris held AEK to a 1-1 draw in Athens, before the Enosi picked up a 1-0 triumph in Thessaloniki in February.

TEAM NEWS: AEK

Thankfully for Carrera, Ognjen Vranjes and Marko Livaja are available again after missing the visit to Nea Smyrni through suspension, and Helder Lopes and Nenad Krsticic have recovered from injury problems. On the other hand, though, Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Marios Oikonomou, Konstantinos Galanopoulos and Nelson Oliveira are all still on the treatment table, while goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas continues to recover from appendicitis. 

Possible line-up: Tsintotas, Lopes, Vranjes, Svarnas, Bakakis, Simoes, Krsticic, Livaja, Mantalos, Verde, Araujo.

TEAM NEWS: ARIS

Given the importance of the game, Aris boss Michael Oenning is expected to bring Mihaly Korhut, Giorgos Delizisis and Ideye back into the team, as the Thessaloniki outfit aim to stay in the tie ahead of the second leg at home. Oenning does not have any fresh injury worries.

Possible line-up: Cuesta, Korhut, Delizisis, Velez, Rose, Matilla, Sasha, Gama, Fetfatzidis, Larsson, Ideye.

REFEREE: ARTUR SOARES DIAS (POR)

In accordance with a decision made by the Hellenic Football Federation, foreign referees have been put in charge of the Greek Cup semi-finals, with Soares Dias of Portugal set to oversee proceedings at the OAKA. Soares Dias, 40, recently refereed the Celtic - Copenhagen (1-3) UEFA Europa League match last week.

Regarded as one of the best Portuguese referees, Soares Dias worked at the Shakhtar Donetsk - Manchester City (0-3), Atletico Madrid - Bayer Leverkusen (1-0) and Real Madrid - Paris Saint Germain (2-2) games during the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Linesmen: Rui Licinio (POR), Paulo Soares (POR)

Fourth official: Petros Tsakarakis (GRE)

Video assistant referee: Tiago Martins (POR)

Assistant video assistant referee: Pedro Mota (POR)

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