AEK and Atromitos will battle it out during the 69th Greek Cup Final on Saturday evening.
The two teams will clash at the Olympic Stadium in Athens in a much-anticipated final that has a sort of David vs. Goliath feel to it.
AEK are one of the biggest names in Greek football and historically one of the country’s most successful teams having won the Greek Cup on 13 occasions.
Atromitos meanwhile are making their first ever appearance in a Cup final and will be looking for a major upset as they aim to lift the trophy for the first time.
AEK will aim to win the trophy for the first time since the 2001-02 season when they overcame Olympiakos 2-1 in the final. Two years ago the club played Olympiakos in perhaps the greatest Greek Cup final in history as they lost 4-4 (15-14 on penalties) in an amazing match.
This time around under Spanish boss Manolo Jimenez, AEK find themselves in the final as big favorites to win their first trophy in nearly a decade.
“I am extremely happy that we can challenge for the Greek Cup. One more time I would like to express my thanks to all the roster and even to those players who are gone that played in the early matches,” said the former Sevilla boss.
Jimenez has a full side from which to select from and while most of the starting 11 speaks for itself, the decision of who will lead the line up front appears to be the only mystery heading into the final.
Jimenez will have to choose between goal-poaching expert Ismael Blanco or the physical presence of on-loan striker Nabil Baha.
Atromitos meanwhile have been preparing for their date with destiny and were given a rousing send-off on Thursday by over 500 supporters.
Manager Giorgos Donis summed up it for his side in Friday’s pre-match press conference. “We are very happy that we will be involved in the final. It is a historic moment for us. I am sure my players will do whatever they have in order to lift the trophy. We will have to surpass ourselves,” said the former Panathinaikos and Blackburn player.
While Atromitos do not have much experience in matches of this sort, the players can look to Donis for inspiration as he has won all four Greek Cup finals he has been involved with, three as a player and one as a manager for Larisa.
Though AEK may have settled on most of their line-up, Donis has kept his cards close as far as how Atromitos will enter the pitch. The club will certainly rely on the quality of their best player, Henri Camara, and hope the Senegalese front man can conjure up the goals up front to win the title.
AEK have reached the final having knocked out some of Greece’s biggest sides including Panathinaikos and PAOK in the last two rounds after having come through ties with Panthrakikos and Larisa.
Atromitos meanwhile had a road to the final seemingly easier on paper having avoided most of the big guns. The Athens-based side defeated Anangennisi Giannitson, Kavala, Diagoras Rhodes, and Olympiakos Volos on the way to Saturday’s match.
All-in-all Saturday’s final has the makings of a classic. While there have been relatively few smaller sides to win the Greek Cup in the competition’s history, Atromitos have enough quality to cause AEK problems and could play their part in what promises to be an enthralling match between two sides who like to play attacking football.
AEK are one of the biggest names in Greek football and historically one of the country’s most successful teams having won the Greek Cup on 13 occasions.
Atromitos meanwhile are making their first ever appearance in a Cup final and will be looking for a major upset as they aim to lift the trophy for the first time.
AEK will aim to win the trophy for the first time since the 2001-02 season when they overcame Olympiakos 2-1 in the final. Two years ago the club played Olympiakos in perhaps the greatest Greek Cup final in history as they lost 4-4 (15-14 on penalties) in an amazing match.
This time around under Spanish boss Manolo Jimenez, AEK find themselves in the final as big favorites to win their first trophy in nearly a decade.
“I am extremely happy that we can challenge for the Greek Cup. One more time I would like to express my thanks to all the roster and even to those players who are gone that played in the early matches,” said the former Sevilla boss.
Jimenez has a full side from which to select from and while most of the starting 11 speaks for itself, the decision of who will lead the line up front appears to be the only mystery heading into the final.
Jimenez will have to choose between goal-poaching expert Ismael Blanco or the physical presence of on-loan striker Nabil Baha.
Atromitos meanwhile have been preparing for their date with destiny and were given a rousing send-off on Thursday by over 500 supporters.
Manager Giorgos Donis summed up it for his side in Friday’s pre-match press conference. “We are very happy that we will be involved in the final. It is a historic moment for us. I am sure my players will do whatever they have in order to lift the trophy. We will have to surpass ourselves,” said the former Panathinaikos and Blackburn player.
While Atromitos do not have much experience in matches of this sort, the players can look to Donis for inspiration as he has won all four Greek Cup finals he has been involved with, three as a player and one as a manager for Larisa.
Though AEK may have settled on most of their line-up, Donis has kept his cards close as far as how Atromitos will enter the pitch. The club will certainly rely on the quality of their best player, Henri Camara, and hope the Senegalese front man can conjure up the goals up front to win the title.
AEK have reached the final having knocked out some of Greece’s biggest sides including Panathinaikos and PAOK in the last two rounds after having come through ties with Panthrakikos and Larisa.
Atromitos meanwhile had a road to the final seemingly easier on paper having avoided most of the big guns. The Athens-based side defeated Anangennisi Giannitson, Kavala, Diagoras Rhodes, and Olympiakos Volos on the way to Saturday’s match.
All-in-all Saturday’s final has the makings of a classic. While there have been relatively few smaller sides to win the Greek Cup in the competition’s history, Atromitos have enough quality to cause AEK problems and could play their part in what promises to be an enthralling match between two sides who like to play attacking football.
