Final Play Offs & Play Outs Preview


Final Play Offs & Play Outs Preview


By Greg Gavalas



The Greek Super League of 2019/20 comes to a close after this weekend in a season that has seen many ups and downs as usual.


Olympiakos returned to winning ways and takes out the Championship, they were challenged by PAOK for a little while but their run of wins was too much and after PAOK was deducted 7 points it was all but over, of course PAOK would get those points back only a few weeks ago on appeal at CAS, something we haven’t seen before.


The return of points mean AEK will finish 3rd and miss out on the UEFA Champions League spot they looked like they may get at times after a run of great results in the Play Offs.


In the Playouts, all eyes are on Panionios and Xanthi as to who will be relegated. To put it in simple terms, Panionios must beat Atromitos and Xanthi must lose to Larisa for Panionios to survive the fall.


Play Offs


Olympiakos vs AEK


AEK goes into this match with small hope for gaining the runner up spot, if they can beat Olympiakos and PAOK losses to Aris, this will happen but can AEK beat Olympiakos, the Athenians last beats the Piraeus team in February of 2018, in a Cup match, the ironic thing is AEK also beat them in the league a few days before that too and the two team will meet next week in the Cup Final.


On an injury front, it looks like AEK will have to rest, in form defender, Dmytro Chygrynskiy and Helder Lopez, the latter may miss the Cup Final.


For Olympiakos it’s all about their Fiesta after winning their 45th Championship, so how intense this game will be if AEK has their eyes set on next week’s Cup Final, remains to be seen.


Prediction – Draw 0-0


PAOK vs Aris


After a slow start to the Play Offs, the truth is, PAOK has improved considerably and even handed Olympiakos their first defeat of the season, in Piraeus, this was followed by a midweek draw with AEK in Athens, but PAOK played well and could have won that game also.

PAOK will only need a tie to secure the runner up spot, with Aris down to 12-13 players for this game and without Yiannis Fetftatzidis, I cannot see anything but a comfortable home win in what has been a horror few weeks for Aris with the FIFA ban.


Prediction – PAOK 3-0


Panathinaikos vs OFI


As the two teams look to see out the season in a game that means nothing points wise, Panathinaikos fans have been encouraged to see Giorgios Donis throw young Greek talent in the starting 11.


Sotiris Alexandropoulos has impressed since having a chance in the Super League and even John Van Schip has taken notice. Ioannis Bouzoukis has also ended the season with some good form after a poor regular season.


The match will be Donis’s last in charge of the team he loves before he heads off to continue his career in Saudi Arabia.


Prediction – PAO 2-0


Play Outs


Larisa vs Xanthi


Many expected Xanthi to appeal to CAS with PAOK over their lost points following the PAOKXanthi Gate allegations that saw the team docked 12 points, 7 for that and 5 for finances, however they didn’t and now are in the battle of their lives for survival.


In saying that, Larisa has been one of the worst teams in the play outs and a Xanthi win is not off the cards, if they win they will need to prepare for a relegation play out with Apollon Smyrni.


Prediction – Xanthi 1-0


Asteras Tripolis vs Lamia & Panetolikos vs Volos


The two matches are dead rubbers, in the first match, Asteras is expected to beat Lamia at home and at least end the season well after falling short of their targets. Lamia have not scored for five match days now so just a goal would be good.


Pantetolikos has been one of the better teams in the play outs and as a result have climbed to safety, they will look to have a nice home win over Volos who will look to end the season well also.


Prediction – Asteras 2-0 win, Panetolikos 3-2 win.


Atromitos vs Panionios


The mini Athenian derby sees the visitors fighting for a miracle, Panionios needs to win at all costs if they have any chance to miss the fall to Super League 2 next season.

The 2-0 loss at home to Panetolikos last week could be the nail in the coffin though and the team missed out the last couple of weeks to take advantage of points dropped by Xanthi.


Atromitos like other clubs, will want to end the season with a win, inconstancy their dilemma but it has been a season to forget after the heights the club experiences the last 5 years.


Prediction – Panionios 2-1


Hellas Football 


Follow @GregGavalas 

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