Three of the top six teams in the Greek Super League are in action today in what is the last round of fixtures before the new year.
Olympiakos, Panionios and Asteras Tripolis, currently first, fifth and sixth respectively, all have tricky away games on Saturday.
The first game of the weekend will see third-last Atromitos desperate to pick up points against visiting Panionios. Atromitos coach Traianos Dellas knows his side can not afford to drop any more points at home if they want to avoid relegation at the end of the season. Panionios, meanwhile, will want to continue its great start to the season, which included a 1-1 home draw against rivals AEK Athens last week.
The second game of this weekend is Veria at home to Asteras Tripolis. Veria is lying just above the relegation places and will want to pick up points at home, while Asteras is looking to stay in touch with the top five places that lead to the play-offs.
The final game of tonight will see Olympiakos travel to the island of Lesbos to take on last placed Kalloni.
Olympiakos are flying high this year, having recorded 13 straight wins in the Super League, leaving them at the head to the table well ahead of the chasing pack.
Last week the Reds defeated 10-man Panetolikos 1-nil at home thanks to a goal by Alejandro Dominguez.
The strike, a drive from outside the area that swerved away from substitute goalkeeper Manolis Stefanakos, was scored in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Stefanakos replaced Panetolikos starting keeper Dimitris Kyriakidis, who was shown a straight red card just before half-time for handling the ball outside his area in an incident disputed by the away side, who claim a foul by an Olympiakos player had preceded the goalkeeper’s handling of the ball.
Olympiakos was then awarded a penalty in the 55th minute, which was taken by Dominguez and saved by Stefanakos.
Despite winning the game and going 11 points ahead of second-place Panathinaikos, Olympiakos supporters jeered their players at the completion of the game, disappointed by what many called a very poor performance by the champions.
On Sunday, fourth-placed PAOK take on eighth-placed Platanias at Toumba Stadium. Both sides drew their respective matches last week, PAOK had a scoreless draw away to Levadiakos, while Veria drew 1-1 away against Xanthi.
Also Sunday, Panetolikos takes on Iraklis and Giannena meets Xanthi, before the final game of the day sees second-placed Panathinaikos, confident after a good 2-nil win against Asteras last weekend, travel north to Thrace where it will face Panthrakikos in Komotini.
On Monday, third-placed AEK Athens hosts Levadiakos at the Athens Olympic Stadium in the last Super League game for this year.