EPO release new Cup format details
On Tuesday, the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) released a detailed layout of the Greek Cup’s new format. AGONAsport takes a closer look.
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As previously reported on AGONAsport, the Greek Cup format will undergo many changes in the new season, which were officially announced by the EPO on Tuesday. One major change includes the removal of the group stages from the competition to alleviate the ‘busy’ footballing calendar.
As a result, the Greek Cup will now consist of nine (!) rounds each of which will be played in a single or two legged knockout format. The matches in the first four rounds will be played as a single game knockout while the fifth, sixth (the last 16), seventh (quarter-finals), and eighth (semi-finals) rounds will be played under a two-legged knockout format.
The final (i.e. ninth round) will be a single game at a neutral ground that is not home to either finalist. Thus, the final’s venue will be announced after the finalists are known. The EPO also stated in their official announcement that the final could be played in a stadium located outside of Greece.
The teams from all three professional divisions, the Super League (14 teams), the Super League 2 (12 teams), and Football League (14 teams), and last season’s 53 E.P.S. cup winners will partake in the 2019/20 Greek Cup.
The 53 regional cup winners will begin in the first round, while the Football League’s clubs will receive a bye to the third round. The Super League 2’s clubs will be given a bye to the fourth round and nine of the 14 Super League’s clubs will join the competition in the fifth round.
The five remaining Super League teams, those competing in next season’s UEFA Champions and Europa League, PAOK, Olympiacos, AEK, Atromitos, and Aris, will receive a bye to the sixth round to lighten their respective match load in the early parts of the season.
A total 111 matches will be played in next year’s Greek Cup.
Below is the detailed format of each round of the Greek Cup:
First Round (single game knockout)
Will consist of the 53 regional cup winners. However, since six of these teams competed in last year’s Gamma Ethniki and gained promotion to the Football League, only 47 teams will partake in this stage of the competition.
Six geographic zones will be drawn up and the 47 teams will be drawn into 23 pairs - the final team left in the pot (47th team) will receive a bye to the second round. The first team drawn will host the knockout tie.
The 23 + 1 winners will advance to the second round.
Second Round (single game knockout)
Will consist of the 23+1 teams that advanced from the first round.
Four geographic zones will be drawn up and the 24 teams will be drawn into 12 pairs. The first team drawn will host the knockout tie.
The 12 winners will advance to the third round.
Third Round (single game knockout)
Will consist of the 12 teams that advanced from the second round plus the 14 teams from the Football League. A total of 26 teams.
The teams will be separated into a seeded and unseeded pot. The Football League clubs will be seeded (14 teams) while the 12 teams that advanced from the second round will be unseeded. Thirteen pairs will be formed and the teams in the unseeded pot will play the tie at home.
The 13 winners will advance to the fourth round.
Fourth Round (single game knockout)
Will consist of the 13 teams that advanced from the third round plus the 12 teams from the Super League 2. A total of 25 teams.
The teams will be separated into a seeded and unseeded pot. The Superl League 2 clubs will be seeded (12 teams) while the 13 teams that advanced from the third round will be unseeded. Twelve pairs will be formed and the teams in the unseeded pot will play the tie at home. The final team left in the draw will be given a bye to the fifth round.
The 12 +1 winners will advance to the last 32 or fifth round.
Fifth Round (two-legged knockout)
Will consist of the 12+1 teams that advanced from the fourth round plus eight teams from the Super League (those that finished 6th-13th in the 2019 Super League) and the 2019 Football League champion. A total of 22 teams.
The teams will be separated into a seeded and unseeded pot. The Super League clubs will be seeded (9 teams) while the 13 teams that advanced from the fourth round will be unseeded. Eleven pairs will be formed and the teams that are drawn first will play the first leg at home. Once all the seeded teams are draw, the remaining four teams will be drawn into two pairs with the first team draw to play the first leg at home.
The 11 winners will advance to the last 16 or sixth round.
Sixth Round or Last 16 (two-legged knockout)
Will consist of the 11 teams that advanced from the fifth round plus the last five teams from the Super League (those that finished 1st-5th in the 2019 Super League). A total of 16 teams.
The teams will be separated into a seeded and unseeded pot. The top five ranked Super League clubs based on the 2018/19 standings along with the next best three Super League ranked clubs will be seeded while the remaining eight teams will be unseeded. Eight pairs will be formed and the teams that are drawn first will play the first leg at home.
The eight winners will advance to the quarter-finals or seventh round (quarter-finals).
Seventh Round or Quarter-finals (two-legged knockout)
Will consist of the eight teams that advanced from the sixth round.
The teams will be placed into one pot. Four pairs will be formed and the teams that are drawn first will play the first leg at home.
The four winners will advance to the semi-finals or eighth round.
Eighth Round or Semi-finals (two-legged knockout)
Will consist of the four teams that advanced from the seventh round.
The teams will be placed into one pot. Two pairs will be formed and the teams that are drawn first will play the first leg at home.
The two winners will advance to the final or ninth round.
Ninth Round or Final (single game knockout)
Will consist of the two teams that advanced from the eighth round.
This match will take place at a neutral ground that is not the home of either finalist and can be held in a stadium located outside of Greece.
The winner of this match is the 2020 Greek Cup champion and will be granted a place in the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.
