PAOK aiming to end campaign unbeaten

Boasting a confident nine-point lead in first place of the Super League standings, PAOK are close to securing their first championship title in 34 years, with the team looking to finish the campaign unbeaten.

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The last time when a Greek team won the title without losing a single match was Panathinaikos in the 1963/1964 season. Since then, no team has ever managed to complete the domestic campaign undefeated, not even the dominant Olympiacos side which won seven consecutive leagues between 2011 and 2017. Nevertheless, with 10 matches remaining, Super League leaders PAOK are yet to be beaten with the most difficult fixtures supposedly behind them.

Last week, PAOK came the closest yet to dropping a defeat. After going 1:0 up against defending Greek champions AEK in Athens, Leo Jaba was sent off, and Ezequiel Ponce headed in an equaliser for the hosts. However, sturdy defending kept AEK at bay, with the away team claiming a vital 1:1 draw at the Olympic Stadium. PAOK then emphatically dispatched Olympiacos 3:1 at the Toumba Stadium to extend their lead at the top of the table to a large nine points.

PAOK have already set a new club record. Previously, their best was remaining unbeaten for the opening 19 matches in the 1972/1973 season, however this has now been beaten after winning 18 and drawing two of the first 20 matches of the 2018/2019 Super League campaign.

The team’s only other draw this season came in Peristeri in a 1:1 tie against Atromitos.

When playing Olympiacos in Piraeus in the first half of the season, PAOK were forced to defend for their lives at times, however an own-goal from Serbian defender Jagos Vukovic gifted them a 1:0 victory. With all games against AEK and Olympiacos out of the way, PAOK have a seemingly comfortable end to the season approaching, with the most tricky fixtures being against Aris (H), Panathinaikos (A) and Atromitos (H). PAOK will finish the season with an away match at PAS Giannina on May 5.

The two games with Aris and Panathinaikos are particularly fascinating. In the first Derby of Northern Greece, PAOK rode their luck, falling behind and relying on Alexandros Paschalakis to save a penalty as they eventually won 2:1. Aris also held PAOK to a 1:1 draw in the Greek Cup. As for the duel against Panathinaikos, the Dikefalos tou Vorra can expect stubborn resistance from the young Greens, and games at the OAKA are never easy.

Here are all of PAOK’s remaining 10 matches in the 2018/2019 Super League:

Apollon Smyrnis (A), February 18

Aris (H), February 24

Panathinaikos (A), March 3

Atromitos (H), March 10

Panetolikos (A), March 16

Xanthi (A), March 31

Lamia (H), April 7

AEL (A), April 14

Levadiakos (H), April 21

PAS Giannina (A), May 5

by Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: to10.gr

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