Greek Cup Final 2020 Build Up
Greek Cup Final 2020 Build Up
Date Unknown:
In a repeat of the Greek Cup Final way back when in 2016, Olympiakos and AEK Athens will contest for Greece's second biggest competition, both of whom have very different aspirations after the end of the Greek Super League season.
For Thrylos it's a chance for their first league and cup double in five years, something only Olympiakos fans wish to see happen.
For Enosis, it's a chance at their first silverware since their league title win in 2017 and a way to show their passionate fans that they can still very much compete at the top level with their Piraeus rivals and get one over the old enemy by stopping them from winning another trophy this season. So even though the date of the final is yet to be officially confirmed after it was postponed from its original date on the 26th of July, I am still going to be doing a build up of this clash of the titans Greek Cup final. I will also be taking a look at just how both teams sealed their place in the final and what we can expect, when the date is given and the match can actually be played.
Format Changes and the run to the Final
With the change in format to the competition for the 2019/20 season, the Greek Cup did away with the group stage, and instead, introduced single stage Knockout rounds for the first four rounds of the competition. The First Round and Second Round would be played by teams from the lower divisions of Greek football, with Football League sides from the Third tier entering thereafter. The Fourth Round would see Greek Super League 2 sides enter the fray and by the Fifth Round, Greek Super League sides, who were placed 6th-13th in the 18/19 season, would also enter the Greek Cup. The Round of 16 is when 1st to 5th place from the previous SLGR season entered and this included Olympiakos and AEK who were seeded second and third place respectively.
At this stage of the competition a round robin, two legged knockout stage was introduced, with both sides playing home and away with the away goal ruling also a factor at this stage. Both sides started their cup run as favourites in their ties, with Olympiakos comfortably brushing aside third division side Kalamata 6-1 on aggregate, and AEK matched up with a slightly tougher challenge in the form of Asteras Tripolis, who the Kitrinómavri were able to overcome 3-1 over two games.
Quarters, Stumbling blocks and Mino - Killers
The Quarter Finals presented two potential stumbling blocks for both sides despite being the favourites to progress. Olympiakos faced off against Lamia, the side that had surprisingly dumped the Erythrolefki out of the cup in the quarterfinals the previous season and AEK played their second SL side in Panetolikos. Both sides, in the first leg of the quarters, struggled against their supposed weaker opponents as the Agrinio based side stealing a 1-1 against the Athenians and the Kyanólefki holding Thrylos 0-0. Although the second leg was still to come the cup always has the potential, as we all know, to cause a surprise. It was not to be however, as AEK went on to smash Panetolikos 4-0 and Olympiakos making hard for themselves but defeating their demons of the previous campaign, and Lamia, in a 3-2 win and both sides going to the Semi Final.
Semi’s, Stoppage and the Restart
The last Four of Greek Cup saw a north vs south fixture for both ties as Olympiakos played title rivals and Cup winners PAOK, and AEK matched up against another Thessaloniki side in Aris. So many interesting possibilities or the final. As well as what we got in the end, with a replay of the 2015/16 final, There was a possibility for a fourth consecutive final between AEK and PAOK, a first Greek Cup final for Olympiakos since 2016, a first Geek Cup final for Aris since 2010 and a first final match up between Olympiakos and Aris since 2008 not to mention a fifth consecutive Greek Cup final for AEK, a massive achievement for the club. Before the domestic season was halted, due to Covid19, both first legs of the semi finals were played. Olympiakos went 2-0 up in the first ten minutes only to see themselves lose their cushion two minutes later as PAOK brought it back to 2-2. A 69th minute penalty sealed the win for PAOK with Olympiakos down but not out of the tie. Once the restart occurred Thrylos put their rivals to the sword and ran out 2-0 winners in Piraeus and reached their first final in five years 3-4 on aggregate. AEK were able to win their first leg tie against Aris going into the break; but, after the restart as AEK have surprisingly done throughout their cup run, they failed to win away from home, drawing 2-2 but ultimately reached the final, also 3-4 on aggregate.
Head to Head and Who can win?
When looking at the head to head record of both sides it does seem rather one sided. Despite Olympiakos winning 3/4 of their games against AEK this season just gone, only drawing once against the Dikéfalos Aetós 0-0 at the Olympic stadium. The last time both sides faced off in the Greek Cup Final however, AEK came out on top over Thrylos, with a 2-1 win to lift their first Greek Cup for five years. Despite being the favourites for the final, and having AEK's number when facing each other throughout the season, the final is an occasion that the Athens side could very much take advantage of and surprise the new league champions and snatch the Greek Cup once again from the Piraeus sides grasps.
Well...Now What?
Now that both sides have reached the final, all that's left to do is actually play the game. After some debate as to where the final should be held, the EPO came to the decision to hold the final at Apollon Smyrini's ground, the Georgios Kamaras Stadium on the 26th of July. That was all to change however as the EPO then decided to postpone the final until the 30th of August but with the potential for a re vote and rescheduling of the final so that it will be held at a sooner date and to be held at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. At the time of writing no actual decision has been made but until the situation changes we are stuck in limbo, waiting for any news about what on earth is going on with Greece's domestic cup final.
I would give my prediction for the final but I dare not, for fear of being accused of bias.
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