Greek Super League: All eyes on the Athens derby!

Olympiacos host AEK, in one of the biggest games of the yearly football calendar in Greece, and no other result but the win will satisfy either side

Olympiacos will face AEK in one of the most traditional rivalries of Greek football.

25 October 2019 10:39am

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The big rivalry between Olympiacos and AEK will be the centre of attention for round eight of the Greek Super League One.

The two teams need the result, each for their own reasons, while supporters will always want gloating rights over the opposing side.

In the red-and-white corner, Pedro Martins expressed his satisfaction over the way his team played against German giants Bayern Munich last Tuesday night despite the loss and will hope for a similar performance in Saturday’s crucial match.

The team from Piraeus have already made it public on several occasions that winning the league is their number one priority this season and so they will want to walk away with the three points from this game in order to remain at the top of the ladder.

The Portuguese manager will be happy to have his key play maker Mathieu Valbuena available once again, as his absence was more than obvious in the club’s last two games.

Yassine Benzia has also resumed full training and will be a potential solution from the bench.

On the other end, Nikos Kostenoglou is troubled not just by his team’s disciplinary issues (with videos surfacing online of several players singing offensive chants against their rivals) but also by the potential loss of one of his most important players.

More to the point, Greek international Petros Mantalos has been following a special training program and his participation on Saturday’s crucial match is highly doubtful, as is defender Geraldo’s.

However, winger Daniele Verde will be available and could even start the match depending on the formation.

AEK will need to win at the “Karaiskakis” if they are to remain close to the top.

Champions PAOK will also be keeping their fingers crossed for a win by the black-and-yellows, since such a result could potentially bring them at the top of the table.

Provided of course they do their part on Saturday at Thessaly against Volos, who have already proven that they are not to be taken lightly.

PAOK captain Adelino Vieirinha has returned to match form, playing in last week’s 3-0 win against Lamia, but the same cannot be said about Brazilian midfielder Mauricio who felt a pinch on his left thigh during training and will need more time to fully recover after his injury.

Panathinaikos will want to capitalise on last Sunday’s away win against Atromitos and build on it as they host Larissa at the Olympic Stadium, while at Aris new manager Michael Hoennig will hope to keep the team on the winning path in his second game at the helm which will be at the Kleanthis Vikelidis against Panetolikos.