Greek title race: Decisive games ahead for three contenders
In one of the most thrilling Super League title races witnessed in recent history, PAOK, Olympiacos and AEK are locked in a gripping battle to take the trophy. Following Olympiacos’ slip up against Asteras Tripolis on Sunday, PAOK lead the standings by one point, but the Thrylos and AEK are breathing hard down their necks.
With the decisive stretch of the Super League approaching, AGONAsport takes a look at the schedule awaiting all three clubs involved in the title showdown.
PAOK
Outscoring their opponents 20-0 in the past seven matches and winning all of those games, PAOK are Greece’s form club at the moment. Simply unbeatable at the Toumba Stadium, where they have won nine out of nine matches, the Dikefalos hold a slender one point advantage over second placed Olympiacos. However, their schedule is about to become rather testing. After edging a close encounter against Panetolikos on Sunday, PAOK will now travel to Ioannina to play PAS Giannina, a club which is yet to lose at home. Matches against AEL and Lamia should be pretty straightforward, but PAOK then play Olympiacos (H), Asteras (A), AEK (H) and Atromitos (A) in consecutive matches. Without doubt, those games will show whether PAOK really possess what it takes to become Greek champions for the first time since 1985. Any mistake is sure be punished by their rivals.
PAOK have to play against troubled Panathinaikos on matchday 29 at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium. They will complete the season with a game against Platanias in Thessaloniki.
PAOK’s remaining fixtures:
PAS Giannina - PAOK;
PAOK - AEL;
Lamia - PAOK;
PAOK - Olympiacos;
Asteras Tripolis - PAOK;
PAOK - AEK;
Atromitos - PAOK;
PAOK - Panionios;
PAOK - Xanthi;
Panathinaikos - PAOK;
PAOK - Platanias.
Olympiacos
The reigning Greek champions endured a torrid start to the season, firing former head coach Besnik Hasi and dropping a couple of key defeats. Nevertheless, interim manager Takis Lemonis managed to steady the ship in Piraeus, settling the club down and steering Olympiacos to first place in the table after initial leaders AEK failed to win their matches. Lemonis was then replaced for Spaniard Oscar Garcia, but the Thrylos could only draw 1:1 with Asteras Tripolis on Sunday to lose their grip on first position. Still, there is only one point separating PAOK and Olympiacos.
On the coming Sunday, Olympiacos host AEK at the Karaiskakis Stadium, a duel which is pivotal in the title race. At home, Olympiacos will be expected to take the initiative in the match, but AEK’s ability to counterattack could make it a thrilling affair. In a few weeks’ time, the Piraeus club are faced with a huge battle against PAOK in Thessaloniki. If Olympiacos manage to take maximum points from those fixtures, they will emerge as clear favourites in the race to become champions. Olympiacos’ final match is against PAS Giannina away.
Olympiacos’ remaining fixtures:
Olympiacos - AEK;
Atromitos - Olympiacos;
Olympiacos - Panionios;
PAOK - Olympiacos;
Olympiacos - Panathinaikos;
Platanias - Olympiacos;
Levadiakos - Olympiacos;
Olympiacos - AOK Kerkyra;
Olympiacos - Apollon Smyrnis;
Olympiacos - Panetolikos;
PAS Giannina - Olympiacos.
AEK
The Enosis may be in third position, but they are only two points behind PAOK. AEK move into Sunday’s showdown against Olympiacos on the back of a 2:0 triumph against Lamia, but the Athenians have to play at their best if they are to get a positive result in Piraeus. A defeat could leave AEK with a mountain to climb and their title hopes slowly slipping away. Recently, in the Greek Cup, AEK picked up a 0:0 draw against Olympiacos on the road.
Later on, the Kitrinomavri will play Atromitos away, Panionios at the OAKA, PAOK in Thessaloniki and Panathinaikos at home in successive matches. AEK do have a kind final few games though, playing against outsiders Platanias (A), Levadiakos (H), AOK Kerkyra (A) and Apollon Smyrnis (A) in the last matches of the 2017/2018 season. If AEK make the latter stages of the Europa League, tiredness might become a real factor.
AEK’s remaining fixtures:
Olympiacos - AEK;
AEK - Asteras Tripolis;
AEK - Xanthi;
Atromitos - AEK;
AEK - Panionios;
PAOK - AEK;
AEK - Panathinaikos;
Platanias - AEK;
AEK - Levadiakos;
AOK Kerkyra - AEK;
Apollon Smyrnis - AEK.
