The 12th Round of the Super League is highlighted by the traditional Athenian derby with AEK trying to overcome Panathinaikos to keep up with league leaders, Olympiacos, who are already six points clear.
The Athens giants go head-to-head at the Olympic Stadium on Monday morning (Australian time) and the Greens have as much riding on the result as AEK, hoping to record a third straight league win as well as keeping their place in the extremely competitive top six.
AEK captain and league top assister, Petros Mantalos, will look to continue his fine form, while Panathinaikos will turn to striker Federico Macheda, who has kept the goals coming in the absence of the injured league top scorer, Carlitos, scoring four times in his last three matches (League and Cup).
READ MORE: Last-minute goals deliver victories for Olympiacos and AEK
The unbeaten Olympiacos have a tough away trip to Crete this weekend, facing an OFI side that has lost only once this season.
The Red and Whites will be extra motivated after a shocking loss midweek to second division side Levadiakos in the first leg of the Greek Cup’s Round of 16.
PAOK will be seeking redemption after their derby defeat to Aris, travelling to Athens to play Ionikos Nikea who are languishing in 11th place.
Meanwhile, their local rivals, Aris, will hope to build on last week’s result as they face another team full of confidence, Asteras Tripolis, who decimated Atromitos 6-2.
In a bottom place playoff, Atromitos will host Apollon Smyrnis and the western suburbs team will be hoping for much improvement after their devastating loss in the previous round.
Volos will be looking to cement their status in the middle of the ladder in their clash with Panetolikos, who are down in 12th place.
In the round’s final fixture, Lamia welcome PAS Giannina to its home ground in a match they will struggle to score in, with the “Ajax” of Epirus having conceded a league low eight goals this season, matched only by Olympiacos.