The Double Preview PAOK vs Olympiakos & Aris vs AEK

The Double Preview

PAOK vs Olympiakos & Aris vs AEK 

By Steve Kountourou

The rivalry between Northern Greek city Thessaloniki and the southern capital of Athens is rooted in a rich history, and at times, a volatile atmosphere. It can be traced back to the social contempt shown by the people from the north of the country, seeing the southern Athenians as the upper class and favoured by the Greek state over themselves. This also fuels the football rivalry between the two cities and makes for some of the most intense derby atmospheres in Europe. It just so happens that this week two intercity derbies will be taking place, in the form of PAOK vs Olympiakos and Aris vs AEK. The impact of these results, depending on which way each match goes, could be pivotal.

 

A PAOK win would help them overtake city rivals Aris, and start to mount a chase for 1st place Olympiakos. Thrylos, with a win against the Aspromavri, would either maintain or increase their current lead in the league standings depending on what happens with Aris. The kitrinomavri will want a win to pull away from PAOK and attempt to catch the league leaders Olympiakos. While AEK need a win to have any chance of chasing the top three, while also keeping Panathinaikos, who are hot on their heels, at arm's length.

 

So with all to play for, this week I will be previewing these two titanic fixtures. How both teams performed last game week, the result of the last encounter between each side, as well as a look at injuries, squad changes and at the end, a prediction for both games. 

PAOK vs Olympiakos 

Last Head to Head and recent league results 

The last time both Olympiakos and PAOK faced off was at the tail end of the 2019/20 season in the playoffs. Olympiakos had already secured the league title and were looking to finish the campaign undefeated. The former champions PAOK were looking to rain on the Thrylos parade with an away win in Piraeus, and prevent their rivals from doing what they did during their title winning run in 18/19 and go undefeated. In a cagey affair, both sides were still locked in at 0-0 leading up the end of normal time. At the 90th minute, a nice move from the Aspromavri in the opposition box, culminated in a precise cross from Rodrigo Soares which found the head of Albanian defender Enea Mihaj who made it 0-1 to his side at the death and give PAOK the win against their age old rivals. A bittersweet win for PAOK who walked away with only pride from that victory, and Olympiakos, whose players were bitterly disappointed at losing the chance to go an entire season unbeaten. 

 

Most recently, both sides enjoyed victories in the league leading up to this derby clash.

Olympiakos travelled to Agrinio side Panetolikos managed by Traianos Dellas. After an early goal from Kostas Fortounis, the side currently struggling in the bottom half of the table staged a bit of a fight back and equalised early after half time thanks to a half volley from Aymen Tahar. Thrylos seemed to struggle for the next 20 minutes, giving the ball way wastefully to a Panetolikos side with a bit of momentum. Thanks to the introduction of Marios Vrousai and Mathieu Valbeuna however, Thrylos found themselves firmly in the driver's seat again. After a great run from the talented Greek winger, he found the french veteran who stumped at receiving the ball, but in the process assisted the goal that was calming put away but El Arabi to put the champions ahead once more. Despite the encouraging display from the home side it was the champions that came away with 1-2 victory. 

 

PAOK came into their match at the Toumba against Volos needing a positive result, after they were defeated 3-2 against Atromitos. Things could not have started worse for the Apsromavri however as Volos went ahead early thanks to Giannis Kiakos. PAOK continued to pressure their opponents and on the stroke of the half hour mark won a penalty which was converted by Stefan Schwab. PAOK started to gain a bit more momentum in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts, as Sverrir Ingi Ingason headed the ball home to make it 2-1. At the end of normal time, January signing Michael Krmencik had his shot bounce off the keeper and into the net to make it a 3-1 victory for his side. 

  

Injuries and Suspensions 

In regards to injuries and suspensions to both sides, Olympiakos, as far as I am aware, have an injury free and suspension free side with Semedo having already taken his one match ban against Panetolikos and Ba to take his suspension next week when Thrylos host PAS Giannina. 

 

PAOK on the other hand have two fairly notable players out with long term injuries. Enea Mihaj, who won PAOK the last encounter with Olympiakos, is out with an ACL injury and won't return until early March. Moussa Wague, wingback on loan from Barcelona is also out for the season with a knee injury and probably won't play for the club again as his loan expires in June 2021.

Prediction 

This rivalry has been very hard to call in recent times, with both sides getting the better of one another in each other's home ground in the last few games played between the two teams. Despite PAOK's latest win against Volos, their form has been patchy to say the least in the last month or so. They have struggled defensively under Pablo Garcia, with the side only keeping two clean sheets since the Uruguayan became manager of the senior team in October. Their great attacking threat however and will be looking to cause trouble for the solid Olympiakos defence with the talents of Tzolis and Zivkovic. 

Olympiakos on the other hand are still unbeaten this season and despite facing both Panathinaikos, AEK and Aris are yet to be truly tested domestically. That test could come in the form of the Thessaloniki side, albeit, in an empty Toumba Stadium. In a derby that has shaped the title race in Greek football over the last few seasons, I personally think it will end in a 1-1 draw, not a fantastic result for either, but both sides sharing the points non the less.

Aris vs AEK 

Last Head to Head and recent League results 

While many supporters from both sides in Greece do not regard this as a major game I, like a couple others including fellow Hellas Football writer Greg Gavalas think otherwise. Along with it being a bout between an Athens club and a Thessaloniki club, both sides are currently in the race for the playoff places and even an outside shot at the title, so with all that up for grabs I would consider them both rivals.

 

Enosis last played the Kitrinomavri, way back in July during the 2019/20 Super league playoffs. Five minutes before the half hour mark, AEK were already ahead through Nelson Oliveira. This lead was short lived however as Aris leveled things up with a goal from the ever scoring Bruno Gama and both sides went into halftime at 1-1. AEK stepped up a gear in the 2nd half and began to run riot with two goals in ten minutes from Oliveira grabbing his second and defensive midfielder Andre Simoes. Aris had no plan B, with the Thessaloniki side hardly threatening their Athenian opponents. Eventually AEK would pounce again with a goal towards the end of the match through Damian Szymanski, ending a dominant 1-4 win to take back to the capital.

 

In the most recent fixtures for both sides in the Super League, AEK traveled to bottom side Lamia in the search for a second win in a row after defeating Panetolikos previously. After nine minutes Enosis got the start they were looking for, as Ansarifard turned his man in the box and curled a low shot past the keeper to make it 0-1 to AEK and continue his great scoring run. The Athenians continued to pressure throughout but could not find the second goal to gain a more comfortable lead over Lamia who themselves hardly threatened the AEK defence. After a foul committed by left back Insua in the second half, the referee gave a straight red card, to the players evident frustration, and AEK went down to ten men. Despite this however they held firm and came away with the victory to set themselves up for the match against Aris in midweek.

 

Aris meanwhile travelled to a PAS Giannina side, whose form has really dropped off over the past few weeks. Although they were the better team throughout, the Thessaloniki side could not find a breakthrough with only one shot on target and they had to share the points with PAS in a 0-0 draw.

 

Injuries and Suspensions 

To my knowledge there are no injuries or suspensions that are affecting either side leading up to this fixture. Although as has been the case in the Covid19 hit period, that could change at any point. 

Prediction

This one is hard to call, as both sides have been blowing hot and cold with regards to form in the last month or so. Neither team have conceded in their last two games with both managers seeming to be looking for more defensive solidity going forward. Despite this being seeming a fairly even tie, I am going to favour AEK on this one. With Ansarifard scoring consistently and despite Aris having stepped up massively against the other big clubs in Greece with wins against both Panathinaikos and rivals PAOK, I am predicting a 0-1 away win for Enosis.

Hellas Football 

Follow @stevekountourou