Super League Saturday Offers Fans Plenty of Perks

By: Peter Katsiris | November 29th, 2008

With European club competitions putting domestic leagues on the backseat, the Greek Super League joins its European counterparts this weekend as it climbs back into the limelight. European ambitions will be put aside for the likes of Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, but not for clubs in the race to reach Europe next season; their driving force will rely on their hopes to reach Europe in the coming season. With eight more matches on tap for this weekend, the Super League readies itself for another defining weekend of football.

Larissa vs. Iraklis
Saturday, November 29^th, 2008
Time: 16:45 GR
Venue: Alkazar Stadium, Larissa
TV: ALPHA

In one of two Saturday matinee matchups, Larissa will welcome Iraklis to the Alkazar Stadium. Both clubs were kept off the scoreboard last weekend; as PAOK edged Larissa 1-0, while Olympiacos bombarded Iraklis with a 3-0 victory. On Saturday the playing field is expected to be level, as two sides closely associated with the Super League basement meet up in Larissa.

Last weekend proved costly for Iraklis, as the game wasn’t the only loss picked up at the Kaftanzogleio Stadium. With a 3-0 score line painful enough for the centenary club, the loss of captain through an injury just before halftime came as another blow to a low-momentous club. Further injuries were piled up during midweek, as the likes of Fernando Marques and Christos Bourbos joined their captain on the injured list.

With plenty of influential absentees in Iraklis’ line-up for this weekend, the scenario seems ideal for Michalis Konstantinou to finally break out of his season-long slump. The Cypriot looked promising last weekend against his former club, but the Cyprus international failed to leave his mark on the scoreboard. Now, as his side looks to do more than just scrape by with a depleted squad, the need for the former-Olympiacos to finally perform is imminent.

Larissa, meanwhile, don’t have the mounting injuries like their opponents; but that hasn’t stopped the 2007 Greek Cup winners from going winless in their last six matches. The ‘Vyssini’ were edged out by an old employee last week at Toumba, as Ibrahim Bakayoko struck late to give PAOK a 1-0 win. Now, with their home grounds offering more comfort, the time on their winless drought may be up.

Marinos Ouzounidis will have the services of Frank Guela for the first time this season, as the Ivorian Coast player replaces an injured Walter Inglesias. Marcelo Sarmiento also remains off the weekend roster, as the Argentine continues to a nurse a serious injury.

With the scene set for a battle between two sides desperate for a win, there will be plenty on the line at the Alkazar Stadium. The winner will be determined by which team solves their main problem first.

Thrasyvoulos vs. PAOK
Saturday, November 29^th, 2008
Time: 16:45 GR
Venue: Fyli Stadium, Fyli
TV: novasports1

A 3-0 thumping in Athens dumped Thrasyvoulos into the basement of the Greek Super League. With the lights dimming on Thrasyvoulos’ stay in the Super League, there doesn’t appear to be any time to relax for the newly promoted club as they host PAOK at the Fyli Stadium on Saturday. PAOK erased a derby loss last weekend, as Fernando Santos’ side left it late to return to the win column, after their first loss of the season a week prior.

The last handful of weeks have been full of mixed fortunes for Thrasyvoulos, with monumental results such as a draw against AEK and a win over Ergotelis, have coincided with miserable defeats to Aris and Beta Ethniki club Veria in the Greek Cup.

Not expected to stir up many surprises, the low expectations haven’t allowed manager Sakis Tsiolis to escape criticism from the media. The manager hasn’t found the right mix within his roster, and could be lacking the right ingredients against PAOK on Saturday. The Greek manager will need to find the proper replacements for Juan Manuel Barrientos, and Nikos Vasiliou who remain out due to injury. Despite a triple threat of injuries expected for the club named after an Ancient Greek general, Marlon Ventura has been named to the roster; alongside Efstathios Rokas who returns from a suspension.

PAOK was glad to seal a win after a crushing weekend in Piraeus the week before, but the smile from their success over Larissa was quickly turned into a frown as the Thessaloniki giants were hit by a devastating injury. Bosnian forward and leading goal scorer, Zlatan Muslimovic, has been listed as unavailable for one month as one of PAOK’s early season crutches gives way at a crucial time.

Despite the injury to the Bosnian, there is still plenty of firepower throughout the PAOK roster to fill the void left by the club’s most convincing scorer. Ibrahim Bakayoko will likely carry the load in attack, but Ilias Anastasakos has been named to the PAOK roster in place of Muslimovic. Ironically, the 30-year old could make his first appearance for the ‘Dikefale tou Vorra’ against his former club.

With PAOK holding the role as clear favourites, while Thrasyvoulos will likely have to rely on the home crowd to make up for their winless home record, and grab a much needed victory in Fyli.

Panathinaikos vs. Asteras Tripolis
Saturday, November 29^th, 2008
Time: 19:00 GR
Venue: OAKA Spyro Louis Stadium, Athens
TV: NET

The climax of Saturday will take place in the Greek capital, as Panathinaikos hosts Asteras Tripolis at OAKA. Still feeling the buzz from their shock 1-0 defeat of Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, Henk Ten Cate will look to refocus his side ahead of tough visit from an Arcadian club slowly returning to full form.

The ‘Tryfilli’ defied all odds on Tuesday to snag a highly important win in Milan, and confidence will be at an all-time high on Saturday as they look to reproduce the feat in their home grounds. The Dutch manager has yet to reveal his roster for the match, as a press release is scheduled for the early hours of Saturday morning; however, it was revealed that Bryce Moon and Sotiris Leontiou will remain out for yet another week. Ante Rukavina also appears headed for a stint on the sidelines, as a foot injury will keep the youthful Croatian from action this weekend.

The same line-up that stunned Inter Milan is expected to take to the pitch on Saturday night, but the only change could see Dimitris Salpigidis make an appearance in the starting eleven - instead of jumping off the sub’s bench like he did at the San Siro.

Nikos Kostenoglou is no stranger to the hot lights of the OAKA Spyro Louis Stadium; after all the Super League’s youngest manager enjoyed a brief stint at the managerial reins of AEK Athens last year. In his first game in charge of Asteras, the Greek manager introduced himself to the Tripolis crowd in grand style. The club which shocked much of the Greek top flight last season, found its feet for the first time this year; putting three past Ergotelis, in the club’s best offensive output of the season.

The task of doing the same against powerhouses Panathinaikos will likely be mountainous, but Tripolis will be boosted by a near full-fit squad. Jaouad Zairi returns to the line-up, as does Fabeta and defender Ricardo Esteves. The only unavailable player will be midfielder Marcelao, who continues to undergo therapy to nurse a nagging injury.

The visitors stunned the ‘Big 3′ in meetings last year in Tripoli, and kept them within striking distance while on the road. With Panathinaikos likely to be hung-over with relief after their Champions League success, the Arcadians could have caught the Athenian giants at just the right time.