SLGR Matchday 22 Preview: Leaders face derby test in Athens

AGONAsport’s George Tsitsonis previews matchday 22 of the 2019/20 Greek SuperLeague.

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After overtaking Olympiacos atop the Greek Super League 1 standings, PAOK will put that lead to the test this weekend in a big derby in Athens against Panathinaikos. That encounter in undoubtedly the highlight of Matchday 22 of the 2019/20 Greek Super League 1. Elsewhere, Olympiacos return to the Karaiskakis Stadium to take on Xanthi while AEK take the short trip to play Atromitos. 

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

Saturday

OFI-Larisa

Volos-Lamia

Olympiacos-Xanthi

Three matches are featured on Saturday to start Matchday 22. The day begins in Crete as OFI host Larisa. OFI will be the heavy favorites against a Larisa side who have won just two of their ten away matches. OFI are currently hanging on to sixth place and a spot in the playoffs, but they are facing stiff competition from a number of teams, including Larisa who are just three points behind in tenth place. 

In Thessaly, Volos will play host to Lamia. Both teams are rank outsiders to claim a top six spot, but a victory for either team would put them within striking distance. Volos went down narrowly to PAOK last weekend while Lamia had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Asteras Tripolis after conceding a late equalizer. 

Last week’s scoreless draw at AEK saw Olympiacos knocked off the top of the table. They will attempt to rebound this week with a home fixture versus Xanthi. Still unbeaten on the season, Pedro Martins’ men are well placed in their title challenge, but will view matches as these as vital to pick up victories. Xanthi are locked in a battle for sixth place, even on points with OFI. 

Sunday

Aris-Panionios

Asteras Tripolis-Panetolikos

Atromitos-AEK

Panathinaikos-PAOK

Sunday’s quartet of fixtures begins in Thessaloniki with Aris welcoming Panionios. Aris’ inconsistency was on show again last weekend after they went down to a 2-0 defeat at Panetolikos. In fact, Michael Oenning’s side have won just one in four since their impressive defeat of PAOK to start off 2020. After losing eight matches on the bounce, Panionios came away with a 1-0 home win last week against Atromitos. That gave the team’s survival hopes a small boost though with just nine points there is still much work for the Nea Smyrni club to do.

Panetolikos will try to win back-to-back matches for the first time this season when they travel to take on Asteras Tripolis. The Agrinio team’s 2-0 win over Aris was a real shock and represented just their second win of the entire campaign. With relegation looking likely, a victory in Tripoli could prove very important. Asteras are another side who feature toward the lower end of the table. The team picked up a decent point last week at Lamia through an injury-time equalizer. 

Atromitos’ top six hopes took a big hit last week as they were beaten by last-placed Panionios. A return to Peristeri this weekend will be welcomed, but it won’t be easy as they take on AEK. Massimo Carrera’s charges played out a 0-0 draw against Olympiacos in last weekend’s derby stalemate. With Panathinaikos hitting form, AEK must now do what they can to remain in third. The return of Sergio Araujo could help an attack that has been inconsistent all season long especially against the league’s top teams. 

The AGONAsport Match of the Week is set for Sunday evening at the Olympic Stadium in Athens where Panathinaikos host reigning champions and current league leaders PAOK. This will be the first of three meetings between the two clubs in the next ten days as they play this league match and then a pair of Greek Cup quarter-final ties. 

The visitors overtook Olympiacos for first place in the standings last weekend as they labored to a 1-0 win over Volos. Abel Ferreira’s side have been perfect since the loss to Aris earlier this month. PAOK have rebounded from that defeat well and a victory in Athens could make them the favorites to finish as regular season champs. 

Panathinaikos’ season was in freefall a few weeks ago. On the verge of a Greek Cup elimination to PAS Giannina and winners of just one in five league games, things looked dire for Giorgos Donis and company. A fantastic cup comeback against PAS then gave rise to an uptick in form in the league. Now winners of four straight Super League 1 games, the Prasini enter this weekend’s derby full of confidence and momentum. 

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