PANATHINAIKOS’ hopes of rescuing its Greek Superleague championship from rivals Olympiakos Pireaus will be put to the test tonight when the two biggest clubs in Greek football meet at the Karaiskaki Stadium.
Defending champions PAO are currently second, seven points behind leaders Olympiakos.
Anything short of a win for PAO would surely spell the end of their chances of regaining the title and hand it over to their fiercest rivals in front of Olympiakos’ adoring home crowd.
PAO go into the game having defeated their other rivals AEK Athens last week in a pulsating derby that ended 3-1.
Jesualdo Ferreira’s team gained revenge for their Greek Cup loss to AEK by defeating their rivals at the Olympic Stadium to stay within seven points of Olympiakos, whose 2-1 win at Aris Salonika on Saturday moved them on to 57 points from 22 games.
Goals from Greece international Kostas Katsouranis and Loukas Vyntra gave the Greens a two-goal lead before AEK’s Nacho Scocco pulled one back.
French striker Djibril Cisse sealed the points for the champions with his 18th goal of the season 15 minutes from time.
“We have to win at the Karaiskaki to close the gap on Olympiakos and keep our title hopes alive,” Cisse told reporters.
“I want to score on Saturday because it will be a special match.” Ferreira has kept the champions in contention after taking over from Nikos Nioplias in November.
“For us the only option is victory (against Olympiakos). “I’m sure the Olympiakos players know that Panathinaikos can win this race and I hope there will be a referee who will stand up to the challenge,” Ferreira said.
Ernesto Valverde’s Olympiakos recorded their 11th win in succession at Aris, Spanish midfielder David Fuster scoring the winner with an overhead kick in the 75th minute for his eighth goal of the season.
The Reds are set to play with an all out attack in tonight’s game, with coach Valverde believed to be starting Reffik Djebour, Kevin Miralas, David Fuster and Albert Riera in an attack minded line up that will surely please the sell out crowd.
In other matches today, Kavala play Panseraios and Asteras Tripolis host Kerkyra.
Tomorrow night, AEK entertain Panionios in an empty Athens Olympic Stadium following a one match ban imposed on AEK following the incredible crowd disturbances following their victory in the Greek Cup semi final against Panathinaikos a fortnight ago.
Also tomorrow, Olympiakos Volou play Iraklis, Xanthi meet Larisa in a must win game for the team from Larisa, as they aim to avoid relegation, and Atromitos take on Aris Thessalonikis.