SLGR Matchday 29 Preview: Toumba Set For Title Celebration
AGONAsport’s George Tsitsonis previews matchday 29 of the 2018/19 Greek SuperLeague.
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Two matches remain in the 2018/19 Greek Super League. This weekend’s penultimate round of action is highlighted by PAOK having a chance to clinch the title, their first since 1985. Elsewhere, the fight against relegation garners most of the interest with all of the European places for next season wrapped up.
Below is a match-by-match breakdown of this weekend’s matches.
PAOK - Levadiakos
A point on Sunday at home to Levadiakos in the AGONAsport Match of the Week is all PAOK need to clinch the league title for the first time in 34 years. The odds are that PAOK will get at least the point they so desperately crave against a Levadiakos side that were relegated last weekend and have only managed a single away win all season in fourteen attempts.
OFI - Asteras Tripolis
Two teams in the thick of the relegation battle clash in Heraklion. OFI host Asteras Tripolis in one of the most crucial matches of the season with regard to teams battling against the drop. Asteras are currently a point above the bottom four with OFI occupying 13th place, the last relegation spot which would require a playoff against the second-placed team from the Football League. Victory for either side would provide a big boost toward safety while defeat could condemn one to the second division for next season.
Panionios - PAS Giannina
PAS Giannina will be chasing at least a point when they travel to Nea Smyrni to play Panionios. PAS are in 14th position, two points adrift of the safe zone. They are in the midst of a difficult finish which sees them away to Panionios on Sunday and home to PAOK next weekend. Panionios meanwhile are seventh after an uptick in form recently. Two victories in their final matches could see them end up as high as sixth.
Xanthi - Apollon Smirnis
Xanthi are another side who are far from safe with two games to play. They are one point clear of danger at the moment and have perhaps the easiest fixture of the round as they host bottom club Apollon Smirnis. With a difficult away trip to Thessaloniki next weekend at Aris, Xanthi will be banking on three points on Sunday in order to stay out of the bottom four.
Lamia - Olympiacos
It could well be a revenge mission as Olympiacos travel to take on Lamia this weekend. Olympiacos will more than likely miss out on the title if PAOK manages to pick up a point in their final two games. Thus, second place is the best Pedro Martins’ team can do. They will be looking to exact some payback on a Lamia that knocked them out of the Greek Cup in the quarter-finals. Lamia have had a very strong campaign and besides being still alive in the Greek Cup, the club have the opportunity to finish as high as sixth in the Super League.
AEK - Larisa
AEK need two points to clinch third in a disappointing season for last year’s champions. They will try to pick up a victory this round at home to Larisa. The visitors appear comfortable as they sit three points above the relegation zone. However, upon closer inspection, things are not as good as they seem. This weekend’s away trip to Athens is difficult enough, next week the Vissini host Olympiacos. Those are two tough matches to cap off the season and failure to secure any points could see them still in trouble with respect to the bottom four.
Atromitos - Panathinaikos
Atromitos and Panathinaikos tangle in Peristeri in one of the weekend’s more interesting match-ups. The Prasini received the bad news this week that they have been docked an additional five points due to crowd trouble in the recent derby versus Olympiacos. This is on top of their initial six-point penalty to start the season. If the club had those eleven points then they would be fighting it out with Aris for fifth place and a European berth. Atromitos still have an outside shot to catch AEK for third place, but regardless have already assured themselves of Europa League football next season.
Panetolikos - Aris
It’s fifth away to sixth this Sunday as Aris visit Panetolikos in Agrinio. Aris’ recent dip in form has not cost them as they have clinched fifth and a European place. Panetolikos are playing solely for league placing now and want to hold on to sixth in the standings. Should they succeed it would definitely be viewed as a positive campaign by Traianos Dellas’ men.
