Olympiacos head into winter leading Super League
Due to a better goal difference, Olympiacos are the unofficial winter champions of the Super League, as the Erythrolefki aim to win the championship for the first time in three seasons.
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Olympiacos have shown signs of frailty in recent weeks. Nevertheless, after two underwhelming draws against Panionios and PAOK, the Erythrolefki got back to winning ways at the weekend with a comfortable 3-0 triumph at rock-bottom Panetolikos. Olympiacos have notably only conceded a mere five goals in 13 Super League games.
At the moment, both Olympiacos and PAOK are tied for first place in the Super League with 31 points each, but the Piraeus-based organisation’s superior goal difference - +18 compared to +13 - means they occupy first position. Their head-to-head record is level after their 1-1 draw at the Karaiskakis Stadium.
Incidentally, in 44 out of the past 60 seasons in Greece, the team in first place at the start of winter has subsequently won the league. Over the course of the past 20 years, Olympiacos have become winter champions on 18 occasions, eventually winning the league 16 times. Panathinaikos won the title in the 2003/2004 season and AEK lifted the trophy in the 2017/2018 campaign after Olympiacos had initially been in front in winter.
However, unlike previous seasons, a playoff system will take place after the regular season ends to decide who becomes the champions of the Super League. In early 2020, Olympiacos will have to cope with the added demands of competing in the UEFA Europa League assuming they defeat Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday, whereas PAOK don’t have to worry about continental commitments after they bowed out of Europe in the summer.
Olympiacos will face Asteras Tripolis away from home on matchday 14, while PAOK travel to lowly Panetolikos.
