SLGR Matchday 4 Postseason Preview: Derbies in Athens, Thessaloniki; Crucial relegation battle in Nea Smyrni
Matchday 4 of the 2019/20 Greek Super League postseason is set for this weekend. And there is interest in a number of fixtures with regard to the playoffs and playouts. The highlighted fixtures have to be the two derbies in the playoffs as AEK and Aris host Olympiacos and PAOK respectively. The playouts will also have its own drama though as Panionios and Xanthi clash with the result having a big bearing on the relegation battle.
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Below is a day-by-day breakdown of this weekend’s matches.
Saturday
OFI - Panathinaikos
Panionios - Xanthi
The weekend begins in Crete as OFI take on Panathinaikos. The visitors are coming off a difficult 3-0 defeat to old foes Olympiacos. Panathinaikos however are firmly in fourth and at this point appear to be playing without much pressure. The Prasini are eight points above Aris in fifth and ten points behind third-placed AEK. OFI have ground to make up on Aris if they are to maintain their bid for a European berth. Currently, OFI are four points behind and realistically need to win matches like this in order to finish in the top five.
Saturday’s late kick-off is one of the weekend’s most crucial encounters. Panionios and Xanth face off in Nea Smyrni in a match that could clear up or further muddle the relegation picture depending on the result. Panionios made up ground last week in their bid to avoid the drop as Sotiris Tsiloulis’ game-winner versus Lamia brought Panionios to within three points of safety. Xanthi disappointingly conceded a late equalizer to Panetolikos and now must go to Nea Smyrni and get a result. Failing to do so would see Panionios pull level on points, something that would undoubtedly appeal to the neutral observer as the playouts head toward the halfway point.
Sunday
Aris - PAOK
AEK - Olympiacos
Panetolikos - Asteras Tripolis
Two derbies mark Sunday’s fixtures. Just pipping AEK-Olympiacos for The AGONAsport Match of the Week is the Thessaloniki derby between Aris and PAOK. Unlike the day’s other derby which features an Olympiacos side not necessarily needing points, such is their lead atop the table, Aris and PAOK will both have incentive to claim victory on Sunday along with the prize of city pride. Aris are trying to hold off OFI for the last European place and a victory over their bitter rivals would be a massive boost to their continental ambitions. PAOK meanwhile must shrug off the bitter taste of a Greek Cup semi-final exit to Olympiacos in midweek and attempt to win this game in order to keep pace with or surpass AEK to take over sole possession of second place in the playoffs.
AEK versus Olympiacos at the Olympic Stadium in Athens will be a preview of this year’s Greek Cup final next month after both teams came through dramatic semi-final match-ups on Wednesday. This weekend though it will be all about the league. Olympiacos are essentially the champions-elect, though they still have to mathematically clinch the title and will undoubtedly hope to keep their season-long unbeaten league run intact. AEK are locked in a fight for second place with PAOK. The Kitrinomavri face off against PAOK during midweek action and will want to do so having come away with a positive result against Olympiacos.
Sunday’s other match is in the playouts as Panetolikos and Asteras Tripolis play in Agrinio. It will be a contest between two clubs at different ends of the playout table. Asteras have fared well since the start of the postseason and now top the playout standings. Panetolikos meanwhile are fighting for their top division lives and currently occupy second to last in the standings which is the relegation playoff spot against a team from the second division.
Monday
Volos - Lamia
Atromitos - Larisa
Two playout matches are scheduled for Monday. In Volos, the home side will want to rebound from a 3-1 defeat in last week’s Thessaly derby as they host Lamia. The visitors also are coming off a defeat to lowly Panionios, though their only real motivation at this point is league placing.
Atromitos’ goal of the playouts is surely to show they are the ‘best of the rest’. After just missing out on the playoffs, the Peristeri side will be seeking to rise back above Asteras with a victory at home against Larisa. After their derby win over Volos last weekend, Larisa are actually third in the playout standings and could climb to the top of that table with a win at Atromitos.
