SLGR Matchday 15 Recap: PAOK Squeeze Past PAS; Olympiacos Thrash AEL

AGONAsport’s George Tsitsonis brings you a full recap of matchday 15 action in the Greek SuperLeague.

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The postponed Matchday 15 of the 2018/19 Greek Super League took place this midweek with a full slate of fixtures. PAOK maintained their eight-point lead at the summit, but were made to sweat in a 2-1 win over PAS Giannina. Olympiacos continued their fine form with a 4-0 victory over Larisa.

Elsewhere, there were victories for AEK and Panathinaikos as well as for Panionios and Lamia, the latter duo distancing themselves from the relegation zone.

Here is a match-by match breakdown of the round including this week’s AGONAsport SLGR Awards:

Karol Swiderski’s first goal for PAOK was the game-winner as the Thessaloniki side slipped past PAS Giannina 2-1 on Wednesday. It looked like smooth sailing for Razvan Lucescu’s team after Dimitris Pelkas scored from the penalty spot seven minutes before the break. However, seven minutes after the interval, Dimitris Manos levelled the score for the visiting side. This was Manos’ second consecutive match with a goal since joining the team on loan. Just as it appeared PAS were heading for a point at Toumba as Markos Vellidis saved Chuba Akpom’s 75th penalty, Swiderski stepped up to fire home the winner three minutes from time and give PAOK three big points in their quest for the title.

A hat-trick from Kostas Fortounis fired Olympiacos past Larisa en route to a 4-0 win. Giorgos Masouras scored his first goal for Olympiacos with his eighth minute strike. From then on it was the Fortounis show. The Greek international started his scoring run in the 16th minute from the penalty spot and then added another just before halftime. He finished off his hat-trick in the 75th minute as Olympiacos ran out comfortable winners.

AEK defeated Levadiakos 1-0 on Wednesday in much more comfortable manner than the score suggests. The Kitrinomavri were dominant throughout, creating a host of chances. The only goal of the match was scored by Ezequiel Ponce in the 24th minute as he headed in a pinpoint cross from Rodrigo Galo.

Atromitos let another lead slip away as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to OFI. League leading scorer Efthimios Koulouris found the back of the net once again, however his 33rd minute strike was cancelled out just four minutes later by Juan Neira’s goal. The point was not enough though to pull OFI out of the bottom three while Atromitos are now only three points above Panathinaikos for the final European berth.

Panathinaikos picked up a narrow 1-0 victory away to Panetolikos. In a tight affair in Agrinio, the difference was a fine attacking move by the Prasini in the 33rd minute which saw Ioannis Bouzoukis finish from close range. Panathinaikos played the final 30 minutes a man down after Ergys Kace’s second yellow card, but did enough to hold on for the three points.

In a fiercely fought affair that featured eleven yellow cards, Aris came away with an important 1-0 victory at Xanthi. The decisive moment in the match came just before the break when Mateo Garcia scored for the visitors. Xanthi will undoubtedly remain in the hunt for Europe despite the loss, but for Aris it was their most important victory yet as they pull to within four points of fourth place.

Panionios and Lamia picked up victories that moved them away from the relegation zone. Fiorin Durmishaj’s fantastic half volley gave Panionios the three points in Nea Smyrni in a 1-0 victory over Asteras Tripolis. Lamia’s great form in 2019 continued with a third straight win. Jeronimo Barrales’ brace led the team past Apollon Smirnis 2-1. Barrales opened the scoring just twelve minutes in only for Apollon’s Hilal Al-Helwe to equalize just six minutes later. Barrales then converted from the penalty spot in the 24th minute for his third goal in the last two matches and Lamia held that advantage until the end.

Matchday MVP - Kostas Fortounis (Olympiacos)

The Olympiacos midfielder was at his scintillating best in his team’s 4-0 win against Larisa. Fortounis scored the first hat-trick in the league this season and was everywhere in a superb all-around display. Whether Olympiacos can catch PAOK remains to be seen, but if they are to then surely performances like from Fortounis will lead that charge.

Goal of the Matchday - Giorgos Masouras (Olympiacos)

Bibras Natkho’s accurate pass was necessary, but Masouras’ opener against Larisa was a showcase of individual skill. The young attacker doing ever so well to take the ball down with one touch and before it hit the ground shooting a full volley past Larisa goalkeeper Ogmundur Kristinsson.

Save of the Matchday - Markos Vellidis (PAS Giannina)

While it did not eventually lead to a result, this week’s pick goes to PAS Giannina’s Vellidis. The veteran goalkeeper standing his ground on Chuba Akpom’s penalty, going down slightly to his right in the 75th minute to bat the ball away. It was a save that nearly led to a point, but Swiderski’s late goal ensured PAOK came away with the win.

Team Performance of the Matchday - Olympiacos

The Piraeus side created chance after chance in attacking display that overpowered Larisa from the start. While the opposition are in the lower half of the table, Larisa did show some mettle in grabbing a draw against Panathinaikos last Sunday, playing with ten men for nearly the entire match. The Vissini were no match for Olympiacos on Wednesday however as Pedro Martins’ men were too fast and too deadly in front of goal.

Surprise of the Matchday - OFI

This a team that blows hot and cold so often. Decent at home and poor away it was perhaps no surprise that OFI was able to take points off of Atromitos in Crete. On the flip side, after such a bad performance in Thessaloniki at the weekend, losing 4-0 to PAOK, it was natural to think this team was not in the best of shape. OFI once again confounded the critics. The test now will be to become more consistent down the stretch in order to escape relegation, a battle they are surely in at this stage.

Disappointment of the Matchday - Apollon Smirnis

While they would not have been favorites to win away to a resurgent Lamia side, there must still be frustration for those who support Apollon. This was the sort of match that could have potentially brought some hope of putting together a few points. Instead, Babis Tennes’ side conceded twice in the first 25 minutes and lost once again. Now twelve points from safety, relegation appears to be a certainty.

by George Tsitsonis

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