SLGR Matchday 25 Preview: Olympiacos and PAOK in crucial derby to decide top spot
AGONAsport’s George Tsitsonis previews matchday 25 of the 2019/20 Greek SuperLeague.
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Olympiacos and PAOK meet in a highly anticipated derby in the biggest game of Matchday 25 of the 2019/20 Greek Super League 1. With just two matches before the playoffs are set to commence, the two teams meet in Thessaloniki on Sunday night with first place on the line. Elsewhere, there is plenty of other action with sixth place and the final playoff berth still wide open with seven teams still alive.
Below is a day-by-day breakdown of this weekend’s matches.
Saturday
Asteras Tripolis-Panathinaikos
Lamia-Aris
Two matches are on tap for Saturday as Matchday 25 begins. Asteras Tripolis welcome Panathinaikos in a big game for the home side. The Arkades are just two points behind OFI for the last playoff spot and will feel they must win their final home match in order to give themselves a fighting chance. Panathinaikos have locked up a playoff berth and will finish the regular season in fourth regardless of what they do in the next two matches.
Lamia, currently five points off the playoff places, will try to keep up their challenge until the end with a win against Aris. The Thessaloniki side appear as though they will be in the playoffs, but Michael Oenning’s side have yet to mathematically clinch a spot. Victory at Lamia would do so and avoid a scenario of Aris needing to win their final match.
Sunday
Panetolikos-Panionios
Atromitos-Xanthi
Volos-Larisa
AEK-OFI
PAOK-Olympiacos
Five matches are scheduled in Sunday’s busy finish to the round.
The AGONAsport Match of the Week is an easy pick as the top two teams in the Super League 1 do battle when PAOK host Olympiacos in Thessaloniki. The derby at the Toumba Stadium on Sunday evening will have that extra bit of spice with first place in the league up for grabs. Olympiacos enter the game two points ahead of their rivals, but must shake off their recent Europa League defeat to Arsenal. PAOK meanwhile will see this game as a prime opportunity to take charge of the title race before the playoffs begin. This derby will be the first of five meetings between the clubs in the next two months with two Greek Cup semi-finals and two playoff matches to come.
Elsewhere on Sunday, AEK are back home to take on OFI. Massimo Carrera’s men are now undefeated in their last six matches having won five of those including last weekend’s 1-0 win away to Aris. OFI have all to play for as they hang on to the sixth and final playoff position. After winning just once in their previous ten matches, Georgios Simos’ side picked up a crucial victory against Atromitos last week.
In another match with playoff implications, Atromitos welcome Xanthi in an afternoon kick-off in Peristeri. Xanthi are two points behind OFI and a victory could see them overtake the Crete club in sixth. Atromitos are five points back in the playoff chase and need two victories and some help in the final two rounds to grab the last spot and avoid the playouts.
Volos and Larisa will contest a classic Thessaly derby at the Panthessaliko Stadium on Sunday. While the teams are favorites to enter the playouts as they are eleventh (Larisa) and twelfth (Volos) in the standings, both are still mathematically alive for the playoffs.
Finally, two teams resigned to their fates of the playouts and more than likely relegation meet in Agrinio. Panetolikos host Panionios in a meeting of the bottom two leagues in the division in the day’s early kick-off.
