Greek Cup Final Preview

With the Greek Cup final teams set, it is a repeat of last years teams as AEK come up again PAOK. Greg
Gavalas and Athan Stylos preview their respective teams.
AEK meets PAOK in the Greek Cup Final for the 5th time in their history. The Athenians hold a 3-1 record over
the Dikefalo tou Vorra.
Funny enough, AEK has won all games in Attica whilst PAOK won the only game played outside of the southern
capital which was only last season in Thessaly.
The final last year was married with horrible fan violence before the game which made for horrible images of
violent clashes between the two groups.
The final as such will be played at the Olympic Stadium in Athens which should give AEK a small advantage; it’s
also the same venue that AEK last beat PAOK at for the Cup in 1983.
Sadly Panagiotis Kone will miss the final under bizarre circumstances… after the amazing goal in the semi final
by Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Kone who was on the bench at the time, sprinted onto the field to celebrate
which this cost him a yellow card, and after the game Kone was advised that the yellow card meant he acquired
4 and that equates to a suspension.
AEK’s weapon is no doubt Lazaros however it will take more than one player to beat a very good PAOK team.
PAOK is still scoring well and has an average of 3 (2.7) goals per game in their last 10 matches on the field.
Ognjen Vranjes would be back for AEK at the back which should help, but AEK’s attack would need some
improvement from recent form.
Sergio Araujo can score the goals however players like Bakasetas, Livaja, Masoud, Galo and Hult need to
improve their service and finishing in order to make it a historic double for AEK.
Helder Lopez can be a big help on the wings and a lucky card AEK should play.
PAOK will soon turn its attention on winning back to back Greek Cup’s after comfortably dealing with Panionios
6-2 on aggregate in the previous round.
PAOK will face the new Greek Super League Champions AEK Athens in next month’s Final
After a season of what if's, It is important that PAOK gets its redemption and attempts to take home the cup once
again for its loyal fans which will boost team morale going into the off-season.
PAOK who have had an outstanding season with some great individual,players shining for the team had
remarkably won 11 consecutive leagues matches and we’re favourites to win the title until unfortunate incidents
against both Olympiakos and then AEK Athens ultimately cost them winning the league and will now have to
settle for second place in the league.
After last season’s Cup Final madness in Volos at the Panthessaliko stadium which saw the match be delayed
because of fan violence and then PAOK winning the match in controversial circumstances, hopefully for Greek
football, this Cup Final can be a showcase of what has clearly been Greece’s two best teams this season
Hellas Football

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