Last Chance to shine for Super League’s bottom trio

By: Peter Katsiris | April 25th, 2009

They may be destined for a drop to the Beta Ethniki, but the likes of OFI Crete, Panserraikos, and Thrasyvoulos Fylis return to the Super League limelight on the final day of the season. All three face their statistical counterparts, as the Super League schedule makes way for a meeting between the league’s top three and bottom three sides.

With plenty of disappointment to take to Greece’s second tier, OFI Crete will look to restore at least an ounce of pride when the Cretans travel to face Panathinaikos on Sunday. The Heraklion based side has struggled all season long, and a win at the OAKA Spyros Louis Stadium won’t save them from demotion to the Beta Ethniki; however, the islanders could benefit from a much needed confidence boost ahead of the season.

Panserraikos’ supposed fairy tale end to the season didn’t come with a happy ending. The ‘Liontaria’ were convincingly bounced from the Greek Cup semi-finals by AEK Athens, and their quest to stave off relegation was baffled by self-destruction and by Iraklis’ unwillingness to lose. So, the Beta Ethniki Champions of 2007 will return to the same division they won promotion from about twelve months ago. A fourteen year wait to return to the Greek top flight has been compounded by a one-year stint in the Super League, but the Serres side will be hopeful of denting PAOK’s push for second place in the Super League when the pair meet at the Toumba Stadium on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, Thrasyvoulos will look to suffice for some of the pain inflicted by their bottom of the table finish when Olympiacos visit Fyli on Sunday evening. Two polar opposites will meet at the municipality’s stadium, as the home side looks to hand Greek Champions their fourth loss of the – during a process which would see Thrasyvoulos register just their fourth victory of the season. Pride will definitely be on the line for the hosts, whose aim focuses an overturning of 2-1 result from the reverse fixture.