Aris hoping to move closer to Europe as AEK visit
GREEK SUPERLEAGUE - MATCHDAY 23
| Aris | 19:00 (GR) | AEK |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, 2-Mar |
Fifth placed Aris look to move a step closer to Europe as they host defending Super League champions AEK in Thessaloniki. AGONAsport previews the duel..
Aris deserve huge credit for the way they’ve adapted to life back in the big time. In their maiden Super League campaign since working their way up from the lower divisions, Aris have impressed on a regular basis, currently sitting in fifth place with 34 points. At the moment, the Thessaloniki boast a three-point advantage over Panathinaikos, and it’s looking ever more likely that Aris will qualify for the 2019/2020 UEFA Europa League. If the Greek Cup winner is one of either AEK or PAOK, a Europa League berth will be given to the team in fifth place of the Super League.
Their form in recent weeks has been excellent. After losing to Levadiakos in January, Aris have won three of their past five matches, with a further two 1:1 draws being tallied against Panionios at home and PAOK on the road. Last week’s point at runaway leaders PAOK caught the eye. Previously, PAOK hadn’t dropped any points at the Toumba Stadium in the 2018/2019 season, but Fran Velez headed in a dramatic equaliser to secure a 1:1 derby draw after Vieirinha had opened the scoring in the first half. With head coach Savvas Pantelidis picking a perfect game plan, Aris frustrated PAOK throughout the entire game, preventing their arch-rivals from dictating the play and creating opportunities.
Visitors AEK are enduring a tricky, disappointing Super League season. Even after the return of popular Spanish manager Manolo Jimenez, AEK have continued to struggle, dropping a bitter 1:4 defeat to Olympiacos in Piraeus and only just edging past bottom club Apollon Smyrnis 2:1 in what was a forgettable match. Trailing Olympiacos by eight points, AEK’s UEFA Champions League hopes are all but dead, however the Kitrinomavri are focused on protecting their three-point advantage over Atromitos in third spot.
In the first half of the season, AEK made short work of Aris inside an empty Olympic Stadium, as the Enosis thrashed their opponents 4:0.
TEAM NEWS: ARIS
Martin Tonso hasn’t recovered in time for this match and he won’t participate. Defender Manolis Tzanakakis is suspended, while Dimitris Konstantinidis, who is injured, also cannot play against AEK. Asides from their absence, Pantelidis has a full strength squad, and it will be interesting to see just how much of an attacking approach he will take.
Possible line-up: Cuesta, Korhut, Velez, Rose, Valerianos, Siopis, Matilla, Martinez, Larsson, Garcia, Diguiny.
TEAM NEWS: AEK
The main absentee for the Athenians is midfielder Nenad Krsticic. In training, the 28-year-old Serbian felt pain in his left knee, and he didn’t make the trip to Thessaloniki. Injured Swedish left-back Niklas Hult and Ukrainian centre-back Dmytro Chygrynskiy also miss out. In the last league match, Panagiotis Tsintotas was in goal for AEK, but Vasilis Barkas retook his place between the sticks against Atromitos in the Greek Cup and he will probably maintain his spot in the starting line-up.
Possible line-up: Barkas, Bakakis, Oikonomou, Cosic, Galo, Simoes, Galanopoulos, Mantalos, Boye, Livaja, Ponce.
