Matias Almeida’s team once again took advantage of its powerful home and beat Olympiacos 3-0, making a decisive step for the final match of the championship.
The goals of tonight’s semi-final at the OPAP Arena were scored by Garcia (3′, 90+13′-penalty) and Samasekou (28′-own goal). Thanks to them, the Union defeated Olympiacos after five years and 16 matches across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Panathinaikos is in store for a ferocious set of fixtures in the coming weeks that could potentially derail their season, the first being against an Aris side desperate to get back to winning ways after two straight losses.
The “Trifylli” squares off with the Thessaloniki club at “Kleanthis Vikelidis” Stadium on Monday morning (AEDT) in the headline fixture of the Greek Super League’s 22nd round.
The Greens are set to face three top six sides in the next three weeks (Aris, Volos and Olympiacos) and so they will be eager to earn a win and escape from this challenging run of games without too much damage.
The hosts will not make it easy as they too are in desperate need of three points to change their fortunes after a couple of losses has seen them fall into sixth.
AEK battles Levadiakos at “Agia Sophia” ground on Tuesday morning with the aim of making light work of their opponents and potentially reclaiming first place from Panathinaikos, should they slip up in their match.
PAOK goes away to play Asteras Tripolis with the goal of bagging a victory and remaining in third place for another week.
The Thessaloniki giants will be especially motivated to triumph over the Arcadians after they were frustratingly kept to a 0-0 draw last weekend against Olympiacos.
The reigning premiers, who are level on points with the Double-headed eagle of the North, are looking to down Panetolikos at “Georgios Karaiskakis” Stadium and overtake PAOK on the ladder if they drop points.
Lamia takes on OFI at “Athanasios Diakos” ground and the Fthiotida side is in dire need of a success after going 15 league matches without a win, a record which has seen them fall into last place.
Volos challenges Atromitos at home in a huge contest for the Magnesia side, with victory putting them in good stead to qualify for the play-offs.
Giannina hosts an in-form Ionikos outfit that has secured back-to-back wins to rise into 12th position from last, though the Epirus club will be keen to earn maximum points following three consecutive draws.
Greek Super League Round 22 fixtures (AEDT)
Giannina-Ionikos: 05.00, Sun 12 Feb
Volos-Atromitos: 01.00, Mon 13 Feb
Aris-Panathinaikos: 05.00, Mon 13 Feb
Lamia-OFI: 02.00, Tue 14 Feb
Asteras Tripolis-PAOK: 03.00, Tue 14 Feb
AEK-Levadiakos: 03.30, Tue 14 Feb
Olympiacos-Panetolikos: 06.00, Tue 14 Feb
