Olympiakos vs AEK Athens Preview

Olympiakos vs AEK Athens Preview 

By Steve Kountourou 

As the year begins the brief winter break for Greek football comes to an end, we look now to this Sunday, and one of the more compelling fixtures in the Greek Super League. 

That being the derby between Olympiakos and AEK Athens. One of the biggest spectacles of the Greek game every season, both sides did not have to wait long since their last encounter in capital on the 16th of December, to face each other once again for the reverse fixture in Piraeus. 

For both sides, this is a hugely important game to start 2021. 

As well as the bragging rights for whoever wins this match, Olympiakos need to start the year right by keeping high flying Aris firmly at arms length in their race to retain the title. 

For AEK it's all about keeping up with their Thessaloniki rivals in PAOK and Aris, while also looking over their shoulder at local rivals Panathinaikos not far behind them. 

So for the first blog of the year, I will be previewing this hotly contested affair, taking a brief look at their last encounter, any transfer or injuries made to the squad and rounding it off with a prediction.  

What happened at the Olympic Stadium last time we met.

A mere two and a half weeks ago at the Olympic stadium, both sides played what would have been the first game of the season had it not been rescheduled till December. After a goalless first half and both sides looking rather sub par to say the least, it was Thrylos that broke the deadlock, 5 minutes before the hour mark. Talented winger Marios Vrousai put the ball into the back of the net and after double checking with VAR, the referee blew his whistle and the goal was given putting his side a goal ahead.

Despite this lead, the champions were unable to find another meaningful chance in the second half and ultimately, it would cost them dearly. Ten minutes to the end of normal time Andre Simoes headed in the equaliser at a crucial point in the game to bring his side level. After neither side was able to find the winner late on, the game petered out and both sides had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the Greek capital. 

Not great performances from either but also not the worst result. It was not helped by the fact that both teams had already played two games in the space of a week going into this fixture, with a midweek end to both their European campaign, a weekend league game and now this rescheduled match at the tail end of the year.  

 

Since their last encounter, both sides played their final game of 2020 with relatively differing results. 

Olymiakos finished the year as winter champions, as they returned home to defeat lowly Larissa in a 5-1 drubbing. 

The highlight being Bruno running the length of the pitch all by himself to score the 5th and final goal in a fantastic performance for the winger. 

AEK, after going a goal up in the first couple of minutes, half an hour late found themselves 2-1 down at home to Volos. A second half goal from Ansarifard pulled it level, but AEK could not find a winner and the match ended in a disappointing 2-2 draw for Enosis. 

Major changes 

Despite their last encounter being less than a month ago, Enosis has already seen a major change come to the club, with the sacking of Massimo Carrera and the return of Manolo Jimenez for a 4th spell at the club. 

For Olympiakos, for the most part the squad is fully fit, with Hassan returning from a lengthy spell out due to covid complications, and new signing Oleg Reabciuk arriving on new year's day to replace Ruben Vinagre at left back, after the Portuguese loan was terminated and sent by parent club Wolves to Braga. Both are apparently available for Sunday's match.

Final Thoughts 

This match is huge for both sides to start their new year in the best of ways. 

For AEK and Jiminez, they have a point to prove as they travel to Piraeus to face off against the champions, with the return of their former manager and to show the rest of the league that they can step up to the change facing them. 

For Thrylos, it's an opportunity to make a statement of intent for the rest of the season, to not only show they are more than capable of holding their rivals at arms length to retain the title, but also that they mean business in the build up to their huge Europa League tie with PSV. 

Despite there being no fans still, I believe that this will be a hard fought win for Olympiakos with the score line being 2-1.  

Hellas Football 

Follow @stevekountourou