SLGR Matchday 18 Preview: Derby of the Dikefaloi on tap in Thessaloniki

AGONAsport’s George Tsitsonis previews matchday 18 of the 2019/20 Greek SuperLeague.

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The derby of the Dikefaloi is the standout fixture in Matchday 18 of the 2019/20 Greek Super League 1. PAOK and AEK are set to do battle on Sunday evening at the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki. League leaders Olympiacos have a tricky looking tie away to Lamia while Aris also face a challenging test at Larisa. 

Below is a day-by-day breakdown of this weekend’s matches.

Saturday

Volos-Xanthi

Larisa-Aris

Panetolikos-Atromitos

The weekend play begins with a pair of matches in Thessaly. First off, hosts Volos welcome Xanthi to the Panthessaliko Stadium. Both sides have had good and bad portions to their seasons and both are in a position to challenge for a top six place. Xanthi are currently one point clear of Panathinaikos in sixth, while Volos are down in eleventh, but a mere two points behind their weekend opponents. 

A short while later, Larisa host Aris at the AEL FC Arena. Aris’ inconsistency over the course of the campaign has seen them spend much of the season outside the top six places. However, the great hope of supporters is that after last weekend’s massive derby win over PAOK, the club will begin to put together a string of victories. It won’t be easy against a Larisa side also harboring playoff ambitions, but who have struggled as of late, including last week’s 2-1 defeat at Xanthi.

The final match of the day occurs in Agrinio where lowly Panetolikos are up against Atromitos. After picking up their first win of the season at the end of 2019 (2-0 versus OFI), Panetolikos’ start to 2020 was tarnished with a 3-1 defeat at AEK. Panetolikos seem condemned to finish toward the bottom and thus figure in the relegation playoff mix. Atromitos meanwhile won’t be happy with anything other than a spot in Europe next season. 

Sunday

Asteras Tripolis-OFI

Lamia-Olympiacos

Panathinaikos-Panionios

PAOK-AEK

On Sunday, it’s all about the AGONAsport Match of the Week, the big derby pitting PAOK against AEK. PAOK must summon their powers of recovery when they line-up on Sunday night. Last week’s 4-2 defeat to the hands of Aris ended the team’s 51-match unbeaten run in Super League 1 play. Now, a point behind Olympiacos and with their club record streak shattered, Abel Ferreira’s men need nothing else than to defeat AEK and claim the three points which will put them back on track. AEK have begun the Massimo Carrera era well and took care of business last time out against Panetolikos. It’s probably unlikely that the Kitrinomavri can take over first or second place until the end of the regular season such is the gap at this point. They will simply want to chip away at Olympiacos and PAOK’s lead and perhaps be close enough to make a run during the playoffs.

Olympiacos are back atop the Super League 1 standings and will be seeking the victory in Lamia that will keep them in first place. Pedro Martins’ side came away with a key derby victory last weekend against Panathinaikos. The performance however raised some questions. After a long season that began with Champions’ League qualifiers back in July, there is a sense that some key personnel are suffering from fatigue. Lamia will be no pushovers. After appearing dead and buried following the first eight matches, Akis Mantzios has overseen a remarkable recovery with his team having gone 5-3-1 in their last nine matches.

After a disappointing Greek Cup defeat to PAS Giannina in midweek play, Panathinaikos will be looking for a confidence boost from their league commitments when they host Panionios. A rollercoaster season for the Prasini has taken just another dip in the last week with the derby defeat to Olympiacos and cup loss to second division PAS. Certainly, talk of crisis is never far from Panathinaikos at the moment, but a victory on Sunday would surely settle things down. Panionios look condemned to the relegation playoffs. A series of poor results has erased the feel good factor of a decent run in late autumn.

Finally, two slumping sides meet up when Asteras Tripolis and OFI open the Sunday slate of fixtures. Asteras may have the upper hand being at home as OFI have won just a single away match all season. However, the form of both clubs is of great concern. The two teams have combined for a paltry three wins from their last 18 matches combined. OFI appear to be trying to play themselves out of the top six while Asteras look more competitive under Milan Rastavac, but are a side still seemingly unable to climb out of the bottom three. 

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