The Athens derby between second-placed AEK Athens and third-placed Panathinaikos is the highlight of Round 24 of the Greek Super League, which kicks off today.
Saturday’s games include Kalloni against Platanias at 3.00 pm, followed by Panetolikos versus Xanthi at 5.15 pm. The match of the day is at 7.30 pm, when fifth-placed PAOK entertains sixth-placed Asteras Tripolis in a crucial game for both sides.
Separated by just two points in the race for a spot in the play-offs, PAOK will be looking to take advantage of playing at home, while Asteras knows a loss could leave it too far behind.
On Sunday, Olympiakos will have the chance to clinch the Super League title mathematically when it hosts Veria at Karaiskaki Stadium.
The league leader thrashed Atromitos 4-nil last week, thanks to goals by Chori Dominguez, Alan Pulido, Esteban Cambiasso and Costas Fortounis, and knows that a win tomorrow against third-last Veria would give it another title.
Also on Sunday, Panionios plays Levadiakos and Panthrakikos play Giannina.
The big derby between AEK and PAO kicks off at 7.30 pm on Sunday.
Last week AEK drew 1-1 with Iraklis in Thessaloniki in a match played under difficult conditions with pouring rain and a heavy pitch. AEK struck first when its new Czech striker Tomas Peckhart scored with a header in the 74th minute, only to have his strike cancelled out when Nikos Ziambaris equalised for the host.
Panathinaikos remained four points behind AEK in third, as it surrendered a 2-nil lead over PAOK at home to draw 2-2. The Greens led via Marcus Berg and Nikos Kaltsas, but within 11 minutes PAOK scored twice through a spectacular right-foot volley by Goiko Cimirot and Dimitris Pelkas tap-in.
The Round 24 action concludes on Monday when Atromitos hosts Iraklis.
