Olympiacos and AEK desperate for derby victory

On Sunday, Olympiacos host AEK at the Karaiskakis Stadium, with both teams desperate to finally win a major derby again.

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The two teams’ inability to win the crucial derbies this season has been a huge factor in the title race (or lack of). While PAOK have won four of the five matches against AEK, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, it’s been a completely different story for their main challengers.

Between them, AEK, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos haven’t won a single derby in the current season, with the three clubs in question all drawing against each other when meeting on the pitch.

Olympiacos’ dreadful recent record in derbies stretches back to the 2017/2018 season. If we take into account the Greek Cup, Olympiacos haven’t emerged victorious in nine consecutive derbies, losing five of those nine games and drawing the remaining four. Incidentally, two of the five losses came against AEK, with the Kitrinomavri winning 2:1 on the road in the 2017/2018 Super League and by the same score at home in the second leg of the Greek Cup quarter-finals. Olympiacos’ last derby victory was a 1:0 home win against PAOK on October 22, 2017.

9 derbies without victory for Olympiacos:

Panathinaikos - Olympiacos - 1:0 (Super League)

Olympiacos - AEK - 0:0 (Greek Cup)

Olympiacos - AEK - 1:2 (Super League)

AEK - Olympiacos - 2:1 (Greek Cup)

Olympiacos - Panathinaikos - 1:1 (Super League)

Olympiacos - PAOK - 0:1 (Super League)

AEK - Olympiacos - 1:1 (Super League)

Olympiacos - Panathinaikos - 1:1 (Super League)

PAOK - Olympiacos - 3:1 (Super League)

The first AEK - Olympiacos meeting of the 2018/2019 season saw the Piraeus organisation come within a minute of victory. After Konstantinos Fortounis had struck a beauty at the Olympic Stadium, it looked as though Olympiacos would hold on to the win, however Anastasios Bakasetas headed in a last-gasp equaliser to salvage a point for AEK.

Last season, AEK were superb in derbies as they powered to the Super League crown, but they’ve found it tough going this time around. Under the guidance of Marinos Ouzounidis, the reigning Greek champions failed to beat either Olympiacos, PAOK or Panathinaikos, picking up three draws alongside the one defeat in Thessaloniki (0:2). At home against the 10-men of PAOK, AEK had a golden opportunity to claim all three points, but apart from an headed equaliser from Ezequiel Ponce, they struggled to break down the stubborn opposing defence.

However, with Manolo Jimenez now at the helm again, AEK can feel confident for Sunday’s duel in Piraeus. 55-year-old Jimenez is a derby expert in Greece, and in the previous season, the Spanish coach won five of the six Super League derbies with the Enosis (including the 3:0 technical win against PAOK).

Sunday’s match has major implications for both clubs. Possessing a five-point advantage over AEK in second spot, Olympiacos are keen to get back to winning ways and cement their place in the 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League, while the Kitrinomavri know a win will keep their hopes of finishing runners-up alive. A draw would leave Olympiacos in the box seat.

by Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: sport24.gr

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