Greek Cup Quarter Final Preview

Greek Cup Quarter Final Preview

By Steve Kountourou

Things are starting to heat up in the Greek Cup as the last eight sides get ready to face one another over two legs in the quarter finals of the competition. While there are no lower division sides in the cup this season, there is still a lot of potential for a couple of upsets to take place and see an unlikely underdog reach the semi finals, unlikely being the key word here. So for this week's blog I will be previewing each Cup tie, how each team qualified from the round of 16  and who I think will progress to the final four. 

AEK

Enosis were previously drawn against Apollon Smyrni in the Round of 16 and started the tie in a straightforward manner by comfortably defeating Kianolefki 2-0 at the Olympic Stadium. The second leg at the Georgios Kamaras Stadium however went very differently as Apollon took an early lead through Abiola Dauda and despite Nelson Oliveira equalising six minutes later, Apollon gave themselves a glimmer of hope for a comeback, as Tasos Lagos scored seven minutes after that to make it 2-1. Even with this spirited performance it was not enough in the end, and AEK snuck through to last eight 2-3 on aggregate.      

 

Volos

Much like their upcoming opponent, Volos got the job done in the first leg of the previous round to reach the Quarter Finals. Having been drawn against OFI, they comfortably won the first leg 2-0 against a Cretans side struggling to create and finish their chances since the turn of the new year. OFI would take the lead early on away in Crete, but an equaliser seven minutes later from promising striker Tasos Douvikas was enough for Volos to see out the second leg and go through 1-3 overall.

 

Prediction

Both sides have been patchy to say the least in all competitions lately with Volos struggling to create on a consistent basis after the departure of Amir Warda to PAOK and not being able to capture the great form they had early on in the season. AEK meanwhile have struggled to string a run of good form together since the middle of January, drawing with PAOK, a defeat to PAS Giannina at home, claiming victory over OFI on the road only to return to Athens this weekend just gone and lose to Aris. Both teams will see this as an opportunity in very different ways. 

 

For Volos, it's a chance in the club's young age to go on a bit of a cup run and bring some shine back to a campaign that started so promisingly, but has fallen flat over the second half of the regular season. For AEK it's a chance to find some much needed consistency in the build up to the end of the regular season before the league is slip in two in which Enosis will be competing in the playoffs. It is also an opportunity to possibly reach a monumental 6th Greek Cup final, if they can get past the next stage of the competition as well.

 

I think that while there is a chance for a Volos upset in one of these legs, I do not think it will be impactful enough to see the Athens side knocked out, which is why I predicted AEK will progress to the semi finals.      

 

PAOK 

The Aspromavri time in the Greek Cup round of 16 was certainly much more comfortable than most. During the first leg at the Toumba played a Larissa side who weren't expected to put up much of a fight against the home side. Low and behold that was confirmed after talented right midfielder Christos Tzolis put PAOK 2-0 up at half time, with Krmencik and Ingason adding the 3rd and 4th. Tzolis would go on to back his hat trick 15 minutes before time, making it a 5-0 smashing and basically putting the Crimsons out of the Cup with a game to spare. The return leg at the Alcazar Stadium was much the same as PAOK found themselves 0-2 up after half an hour. Although AEL pulled one back with an own goal from Adrian Pireira, it was far too little far too late, and Pablo Garcia's side progressed to the quarter finals 7-1 on aggregate. 

 

Lamia

The Kyanolefki did not compete in the last stage of the competition as they were given a bye to the next round.

 

Prediction

This is certainly a very favourable tie for the Thessaloniki side on paper. Despite Lamia's improved performances in recent weeks with a 1-0 win over Apollon and a 0-0 draw against Panathinaikos I can't see anything other than a PAOK progression to the Semi Finals. I will say though that the 18/19 champions have had a tendency to switch off in games where they see themselves in control, the most recent example being last weekend where they needed a late equaliser against Apollon to salvage a draw from the jaws of defeat. Even with the occasional lapses, PAOK should be strong enough over two legs to overpower any fight from their opponents.

Now on to what might be seen as the biggest tie of the Greek Cup so far, current holders Olympiakos vs Aris.

 

Olympiakos

Thrylos had seemingly identical performances in both legs of the previous tie against Round of 16 opponents Panetolikos. The first leg in Agrinio was comfortable for a rotated Olympiakos side as Bruma, in the first twenty minutes, put the Ethryolefki ahead. Pedro Martins men started the second half just as they had the first as Marios Vrousai found the back of the net 5 minutes after the hour mark to double Thrylos lead, and a late goal from Pape Abou Cisse basically put the tie out of sight with a game to spare against Traianos Dellas team. The second leg in Piraeus was much the same, as a rotated team put out a very professional performance despite their qualification to the Quarter Finals more or less assured. Giorgos Masouras scored before the ten minute mark with striker Hugo Cuypers scoring impressively from a header half an hour in. Olympiakos continued to control the game, cancelling out any rare chance Panetolikos had of creating anything meaningful. The match was sealed by a late goal from Tasos Androutsos, with the match ending 3-0, the overall aggregate finishing 6-0, and Olympiakos cruising to the next stage of the tournament.

Aris 

The Kitrinomavri also experienced rather smooth sailing to the last eight, as they took on league high flyers Asteras Tripolis. It took until the 69th minute for the deadlock to be broken with Aris own Daniel Mancini putting his side ahead. Not long after and with 15 minutes of normal time left, Facundo Bertoglio doubled their lead to comfortably set up the God of War for the return leg against the Arcadians. Despite being 2-0 down in the tie there was still hope for a comeback in Tripoli for the home side. These hopes were dashed on the stroke of half time however when Dimitris Manos put Aris 0-1 up and Asteras needed a 3 goal comeback to turn the tie. Mateo Garcia compounded their misery by making it 0-2 with 20 minutes left and Aris reached the Quarter Final stage 4-0 on aggregate.

Prediction

This certainly will be a fascinating match up over two legs with Olympiakos looking to secure their second domestic double in a row and Aris one of the sides that could give the champions more trouble than most. I will also say however that a two legged tie plays very much into Thrylos favour and for that reason I think that it will be Olympiakos who reach the semi finals at the expense of Aris.

PAS Giannina

PAS probably had the fight the hardest of any side the qualify for the Quarter Finals. Having been drawn to face Atromitos, the first leg in Ioannina was a very end to end affair. Atromtios took the lead 24 minutes in thanks to Stefanos Stroungis but this was cancelled out through Christos Eleftheriadis 34th minute penalty to make it 1-1. Just before the half time whistle Dimitris Goutas put the side from Peristeri ahead again but PAS fought back for their second equaliser through Jean-Baptiste Leo mid way through the second half and the first leg finished 2-2. Unlike the first leg, upon travelling to Athens, PAS were not messing around, going 0-3 up inside the first 15 minutes through Naumets, Milinceanu and Saliakas respectively. Kostas Kotsopoulos pulled two back in both the 28th and 82nd minute ut it was too little too late as PAS progressed to the last eight 4-5 on aggregate.

 

Panathinaikos

The Tryfilli, like Lamia, did not compete in the round of 16 as they were given a bye to the Quarter Finals.

 

Prediction 

While PAS have probably been the biggest surprise this season in the cup and show a sense of unpredictability in scoring goals and fighting hard to come back into games Panathinaikos have looked much too solid defensively to allow the same lapses in concentration Atromitos did. Which is why I am going to say that it will be PAO over two legs that will progress to the final four. 

Hellas Football 

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