SLGR Matchday 26: Battle for sixth to be decided
AGONAsport’s George Tsitsonis previews matchday 26 of the 2019/20 Greek SuperLeague.
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The final round of the 2019/20 Greek Super League 1 regular season will take this place this weekend. The top six teams in the standings will go on to contest the playoffs while teams placing 7th to 14th will face off in the relegation playout.
The main point of interest concerns sixth place, currently held by OFI with 31 points. The next three teams are all within two points of the final playoff place meaning for those sides there is all to play for this weekend.
Fears about the spread of the coronavirus meant there was talk to play these matches without fans, but ultimately a decision was made to allow the final regular season matchday to be contested with supporters in attendance.
Below is a game-by-game breakdown of the final matchday fixtures:
Larisa-Asteras Tripolis
In Larisa, one team with an outside chance of the playoffs is set to face off against the hosts at the AEL FC Arena. Visiting side Asteras Tripolis are the team closest to OFI in the standings with the Arkades in 7th place just a point behind. Victory in Thessaly could see Asteras leapfrog OFI should the Crete club slip-up at home. Larisa meanwhile are no longer in contention, the highest they could finish would be seventh.
Xanthi-PAOK
Out of the four teams fighting for sixth, Xanthi have the seemingly most difficult match as they are at home, but must play against defending champions PAOK. Only a victory will suffice for Xanthi and then OFI must drop points in order for them to snatch sixth. PAOK meanwhile will be anything but indifferent. After losing the big derby to Olympiacos last weekend they are now five points behind the Piraeus club in the title race. The last thing Abel Ferreira and company will want is to head into the playoffs needing to overturn an even bigger deficit.
Aris-Atromitos
One of the more intriguing match-ups of the round will take place in Thessaloniki with Aris hosting Atromitos. A victory at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium for Atromitos could be enough for them to grab the last playoff place, once again, assuming OFI fail to win their final game. On 34 points already, Aris clinched a spot in the playoffs last week and will look to enter the postseason with some decent form.
OFI-Lamia
Most eyes this weekend will be on the AGONAsport Match of the Week pitting OFI against Lamia. Generally, this wouldn’t be a very high-profile encounter however this result will go a long way in determining which team finishes sixth. OFI control their own destiny and will be the favorites at home to secure the win they need. Lamia’s failure to keep a two-goal lead last week versus Aris knocked them out of playoff contention and kept this match from being even more interesting.
Olympiacos-Panetolikos
It could well be a celebratory atmosphere at the Karaiskakis Stadium on Sunday as Olympiacos host Panetolikos. While the Erythrolefki have not wrapped up the league title, it has been the best week of the season for the club beginning with a derby win at PAOK and continuing with the epic elimination of Arsenal in Europa League play on Thursday evening. Victory against a Panetolikos who are second from the bottom would see Pedro Martins’ side enter the playoffs with at least a five-point lead over nearest rivals PAOK.
Panathinaikos-Volos
Panathinaikos will attempt to fine tune their play ahead of the playoffs with a regular season finale at home to Volos. It’s been a solid second half of the campaign for Giorgos Donis’ team and they will enter the playoffs in good spirits should they claim victory on Sunday. Volos are in the playouts regardless of the result as they were eliminated from contention after last weekend’s 0-0 derby draw at home. The club confirmed the departure of head coach Alberto Gallego and will be led by Gallego’s assistant Stefanos Xirofotos.
Panionios-AEK
Red-hot AEK will look to finish the season strongly with a win at last-placed Panionios. While the 13-point gap from Olympiacos in top spot may be too big to overcome, the wonder is whether AEK’s form could indeed see them overtake PAOK for second place (currently an eight-point deficit). Panionios look resigned to relegation regardless of what happens in the playout phase. The club announced the signing of new coach Leonidas Vokolos this week after former boss Niki Papavasiliou left to manage in Egypt.
