AEK make determined start to 2019 with derbies approaching
AEK make determined start to 2019 with derbies approaching
So far, AEK have made a superb start to 2019 in the Super League, tallying four consecutive victories as the Greek champions make a charge towards the UEFA Champions League places.
Since the turn of the year, the Athenians have defeated PAS Giannina (4:0), Asteras Tripolis (3:0), Panionios (2:0) and Levadiakos (1:0), sweeping aside their opponents with confident displays while not conceding a single goal. Interestingly, the last time when AEK managed to win four straight in the national championship was in the triumphant 2017/2018 season, beating Lamia, Olympiacos, Asteras and Xanthi (January-February) and Panionios, Panathinaikos, Platanias and Levadiakos (March-April) in two separate winning streaks.
This season, all of AEK’s 12 Super League victories have been achieved when tallying clean sheets! Between the sticks, Vasilis Barkas has made a vast improvement after a dip in the latter stages of 2018, while the central defensive partnership of Dmytro Chygrynskiy and Marios Oikonomou is proving difficult for opponents to break down.
Moving further forward, the new 3-5-2 formation used by boss Marinos Ouzounidis is working a treat, especially with full-back Rodrigo Galo bombing up and down the right flank with his dangerous play. In the victory against Levadiakos, Galo created the winning goal for AEK, swinging in a pinpoint cross for the lurking Ezequiel Ponce to head home. On the subject of Ponce, the 21-year-old Argentinian striker has transformed into the prolific hitman which AEK have long been crying out for, netting 12 Super League goals this season and having hit the target in the last four games in a row.
In the midfield, AEK haven’t missed the absent Andre Simoes, with loanee Alef playing with confidence in the middle of the park and new signing Nenad Krsticic showing his talent. Signing from Red Star Belgrade in January, 28-year-old Krsticic has given flashes of his potential, dishing out tricky passes and scoring the one goal in a comprehensive 5:0 Greek Cup victory against AO Chania Kissamikos. As time goes on, the Serbian international is expected to really become a vital cog of the AEK midfield machine, controlling the game with his quick, accurate passing and ability to join the attack.
Just six points behind second-placed Olympiacos, the Enosis are dreaming of another crack at the UEFA Champions League, however they have a rather testing stretch of matches approaching. On Sunday, AEK will host runaway leaders PAOK at the Olympic Stadium, before they make the short trip to Piraeus to take on Olympiacos in a potentially decisive battle on February 17. Nevertheless, if Ouzounidis’ troops continue playing in such a fluid manner, they have a realistic chance of applying serious pressure on Olympiacos as the race for Champions League football heats up.
by Shaun Nicolaides
Image Source: to10.gr
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