Olympiakos can clinch their 38th Greek league title with a victory over AEK on Sunday.
Ernesto Valverde’s team are coming off a 2-1 defeat to PAOK last week and now have the opportunity again to claim the title, this time at home to high-flying AEK, who this week advanced to the Greek Cup final.
Second-placed Panathinaikos appear to have a straightforward task as they host Kerkyra at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. The real interest now has to do with the playoff picture and the fight to avoid relegation. Kavala and Olympiakos Volos square off in a massive clash that could play a vital role in clearing up the playoff race. Atromitos need the points to avoid the drop when they face PAOK at home, while the latter are trying to clinch a playoff place.
Aris look rejuvenated under new boss Sakis Tsiolis and take on Panserraikos. Some key relegation battles are on tap this weekend. Larisa take on Ergotelis with a victory keeping their flickering hopes alive of staying in the division. Asteras Tripolis hope to continue their charge to avoid relegation when they travel to Xanthi. Finally, Panionios’ remarkable turn around could be solidified with a victory at Iraklis.
Xanthi take on Asteras Tripolis on Sunday with the latter desperately needing points in their bid to avoid relegation. Asteras Tripolis are coming off a huge 2-1 win over Olympiakos Volos last weekend and will want to claim a similar result against Xanthi. Asteras are currently a point from safety and every match now is key to their survival hopes.
Xanthi meanwhile appear to be safe, however mathematically they are not out of the woods just yet. After a disappointing 2-1 loss to bottom-side Panserraikos last weekend, Xanthi will want to ensure they end the season on a high with positive results in their remaining matches.
Panathinaikos host a Kerkyra side in need of points on Sunday in Athens. Panathinaikos are coming off a 3-1 win over Iraklis last time out and are gearing up for the playoffs. The main goal for Jesualdo Ferreira’s side is to claim Greece’s second Champions’ League spot and the club will want to enter the playoffs in good form.
Kerkyra meanwhile have toyed with relegation for a while now and though they are better placed than some other clubs, the Corfu-based side need points still to remain in the division. Last weekend’s disappointing 4-3 defeat to Aris was a blow to their survival hopes and another loss to Panathinaikos this weekend could ensure a tense final three matches for the team.
Panionios were lying at the foot of the table at the start of 2011 before Takis Lemonis revived the club. Now, relegation is still a possibility, however Panionios are favorites to avoid the drop after two months of superb performances and positive results. Last weekend’s 3-3 draw against Larisa left a bitter taste in the mouth, if only because Panionios at 3-1 up had a real chance to kill off the match and just about ensure their top-flight status.
This weekend Panionios are away to an Iraklis side who will more than likely finish midtable. That would actually be a fantastic achievement for a side that nearly didn’t feature in this season’s league after financial issues almost forced them down to the fourth division.
Sakis Tsiolis’ appointment as Aris boss had an instant effect on the club as they won a 4-3 thriller last weekend against Kerkyra. It was a breakout offensive performance by Aris, a team that had been goal-shy all season long. The question now is whether the team have enough time to mount a serious challenge for the playoffs. Six points out at the moment, the club will be the heavy favorites this weekend against Panserraikos.
For Panserraikos, their victory over Xanthi last weekend was more a stay of execution than anything else. In last place and 9 points from safety, it really seems like a matter of time before relegation becomes a certainty and a loss this weekend would see that happen.
In one of the weekend’s most attractive ties, Kavala and Olympiakos meet up at the Anthi Karagiannis Stadium. This has the makings of a final and the result could mean that either side could take a giant step toward the playoffs.
Kavala will be led out by new manager Giannis Mantzourakis for the first time and will look to shake off the ill effects of their 1-0 defeat to AEK last weekend. Olympiakos Volos meanwhile endured an even bigger disappointment on Wednesday as they were knocked out of the Greek Cup after failing to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Atromitos in the semifinals. With both of these clubs placed 5th and 6th in the table and locked on 38 points, this is perhaps the most important match of the season now for both with European qualification hanging in the balance.
It will be a battle of contrasts when Atromitos and PAOK face off on Sunday. On the one hand is an Atromitos side who have just qualified for the Greek Cup final for the first time in their history and PAOK, a team who were knocked out of the competition by AEK during midweek.
The contrasts continue when looking at the two teams’ league positions. Atromitos’ fairytale Greek Cup run has been at the expense of their league results and now just a point above the drop zone, Giorgos Donis’ men have work to do in order to maintain their Super League status. PAOK are in the midst of a playoff battle and after some questionable form have rebounded in their last two league fixtures and now control their own destiny as far as a spot in the top five goes. This one has the makings of a superb match.
One of Greek football’s biggest derbies is on tap for Sunday when Olympiakos host AEK at the Karaiskakis Stadium. Olympiakos are aiming to claim their 38th league title and can do so with a victory over their bitter rivals. Ernesto Valverde’s team allowed PAOK to come from behind and beat them last weekend and had to wait at least another week before celebrating their return to the top of Greek football.
AEK are gearing up to take on their nearby opponents with perhaps their best form of the season. After three consecutive league wins, AEK continued their impressive form with a 1-0 victory at PAOK in a second leg Greek Cup semifinal this week which earned them a spot in April’s Greek Cup final. Manolo Jimenez has endured loads of criticism in the last couple months, but it appears that his team are finally coming good in the most crucial point of the season.
Larisa showed a great deal of fight in their 3-3 draw against Panionios last weekend, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the match. Still, many observers think that might have been the match that sent Larisa to the second division. Whether that is so will become clearer this weekend when Larisa host Ergotelis. With four matches left and five points from safety, Larisa need a minor miracle at this point to remain in the Super League, especially with a very difficult schedule.
Ergotelis appeared to be in the midst of the playoff picture for a while, however a couple league defeats later and Nikos Karageorgiou’s team will have to content themselves with a midtable finish, unless they can pull off four straight wins and other results go their way.
Second-placed Panathinaikos appear to have a straightforward task as they host Kerkyra at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. The real interest now has to do with the playoff picture and the fight to avoid relegation. Kavala and Olympiakos Volos square off in a massive clash that could play a vital role in clearing up the playoff race. Atromitos need the points to avoid the drop when they face PAOK at home, while the latter are trying to clinch a playoff place.
Aris look rejuvenated under new boss Sakis Tsiolis and take on Panserraikos. Some key relegation battles are on tap this weekend. Larisa take on Ergotelis with a victory keeping their flickering hopes alive of staying in the division. Asteras Tripolis hope to continue their charge to avoid relegation when they travel to Xanthi. Finally, Panionios’ remarkable turn around could be solidified with a victory at Iraklis.
Xanthi take on Asteras Tripolis on Sunday with the latter desperately needing points in their bid to avoid relegation. Asteras Tripolis are coming off a huge 2-1 win over Olympiakos Volos last weekend and will want to claim a similar result against Xanthi. Asteras are currently a point from safety and every match now is key to their survival hopes.
Xanthi meanwhile appear to be safe, however mathematically they are not out of the woods just yet. After a disappointing 2-1 loss to bottom-side Panserraikos last weekend, Xanthi will want to ensure they end the season on a high with positive results in their remaining matches.
Panathinaikos host a Kerkyra side in need of points on Sunday in Athens. Panathinaikos are coming off a 3-1 win over Iraklis last time out and are gearing up for the playoffs. The main goal for Jesualdo Ferreira’s side is to claim Greece’s second Champions’ League spot and the club will want to enter the playoffs in good form.
Kerkyra meanwhile have toyed with relegation for a while now and though they are better placed than some other clubs, the Corfu-based side need points still to remain in the division. Last weekend’s disappointing 4-3 defeat to Aris was a blow to their survival hopes and another loss to Panathinaikos this weekend could ensure a tense final three matches for the team.
Panionios were lying at the foot of the table at the start of 2011 before Takis Lemonis revived the club. Now, relegation is still a possibility, however Panionios are favorites to avoid the drop after two months of superb performances and positive results. Last weekend’s 3-3 draw against Larisa left a bitter taste in the mouth, if only because Panionios at 3-1 up had a real chance to kill off the match and just about ensure their top-flight status.
This weekend Panionios are away to an Iraklis side who will more than likely finish midtable. That would actually be a fantastic achievement for a side that nearly didn’t feature in this season’s league after financial issues almost forced them down to the fourth division.
Sakis Tsiolis’ appointment as Aris boss had an instant effect on the club as they won a 4-3 thriller last weekend against Kerkyra. It was a breakout offensive performance by Aris, a team that had been goal-shy all season long. The question now is whether the team have enough time to mount a serious challenge for the playoffs. Six points out at the moment, the club will be the heavy favorites this weekend against Panserraikos.
For Panserraikos, their victory over Xanthi last weekend was more a stay of execution than anything else. In last place and 9 points from safety, it really seems like a matter of time before relegation becomes a certainty and a loss this weekend would see that happen.
In one of the weekend’s most attractive ties, Kavala and Olympiakos meet up at the Anthi Karagiannis Stadium. This has the makings of a final and the result could mean that either side could take a giant step toward the playoffs.
Kavala will be led out by new manager Giannis Mantzourakis for the first time and will look to shake off the ill effects of their 1-0 defeat to AEK last weekend. Olympiakos Volos meanwhile endured an even bigger disappointment on Wednesday as they were knocked out of the Greek Cup after failing to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Atromitos in the semifinals. With both of these clubs placed 5th and 6th in the table and locked on 38 points, this is perhaps the most important match of the season now for both with European qualification hanging in the balance.
It will be a battle of contrasts when Atromitos and PAOK face off on Sunday. On the one hand is an Atromitos side who have just qualified for the Greek Cup final for the first time in their history and PAOK, a team who were knocked out of the competition by AEK during midweek.
The contrasts continue when looking at the two teams’ league positions. Atromitos’ fairytale Greek Cup run has been at the expense of their league results and now just a point above the drop zone, Giorgos Donis’ men have work to do in order to maintain their Super League status. PAOK are in the midst of a playoff battle and after some questionable form have rebounded in their last two league fixtures and now control their own destiny as far as a spot in the top five goes. This one has the makings of a superb match.
One of Greek football’s biggest derbies is on tap for Sunday when Olympiakos host AEK at the Karaiskakis Stadium. Olympiakos are aiming to claim their 38th league title and can do so with a victory over their bitter rivals. Ernesto Valverde’s team allowed PAOK to come from behind and beat them last weekend and had to wait at least another week before celebrating their return to the top of Greek football.
AEK are gearing up to take on their nearby opponents with perhaps their best form of the season. After three consecutive league wins, AEK continued their impressive form with a 1-0 victory at PAOK in a second leg Greek Cup semifinal this week which earned them a spot in April’s Greek Cup final. Manolo Jimenez has endured loads of criticism in the last couple months, but it appears that his team are finally coming good in the most crucial point of the season.
Larisa showed a great deal of fight in their 3-3 draw against Panionios last weekend, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the match. Still, many observers think that might have been the match that sent Larisa to the second division. Whether that is so will become clearer this weekend when Larisa host Ergotelis. With four matches left and five points from safety, Larisa need a minor miracle at this point to remain in the Super League, especially with a very difficult schedule.
Ergotelis appeared to be in the midst of the playoff picture for a while, however a couple league defeats later and Nikos Karageorgiou’s team will have to content themselves with a midtable finish, unless they can pull off four straight wins and other results go their way.
