Eternal Derby highlights Super League agenda

By: Peter Katsiris | November 8th, 2008

After a week of change in the Greek Super League, an exciting weekend is on tap for Greek soccer fans as plenty of matches across the country will leave supporters on the edge of their seats.

Panserraikos vs. OFI Crete
Saturday, November 8^th, 2008
Time: 16:45 GR
Venue: Serres Stadium, Serres
TV: ALPHA

Pavlos Adamos will look to steer OFI to its first win of the season, as the Cretan club travels to Serres to meet with Panserraikos. The newly appointed caretaker manager, replaced Frantisek Straka earlier in the week, and will hope to end the busy seven days on a winning note. Panserraikos, meanwhile, will be keen to end a three-game winless drought.

The visitors will be under immense pressure to turn the tide, and fast. With the Iraklieo-based club still sitting at the foot of the Super League table, the need for improvement is ever so imminent. The push for a win will have to continue without Dame N’Doye, who continues to nurse an injury. The club’s leading scoring will be greatly missed, as the on-loan Panathinaikos player has notched five of OFI’s eight goals this season. Joining N’Doye on the sidelines is Dimitris Pliagas, while Esteban Herrera was left off the weekend roster.

Despite OFI’s new manager stealing all the headlines for this match, Panserraikos have achieved their share of success in the early stages of the new season. The newly-promoted side has not seen a great boost in their rankings, sitting only three points above the red zone, yet the ‘Liontaria’ have managed to puzzle their opponents on their travels. The next step is to convert away successes to the homefront, as if Panserraikos is to avoid the drop, the Serres Stadium must become a fortress. A winless start to their home fixtures does little good for a team ranked as underdogs.

This encounter might not hold as much intrigue as some of the other matches on tap for this weekend; but the match carries plenty of importance, as both sides will be desperate to add three points to their total.

PAOK vs. Panionios
Saturday, November 8^th, 2008
Time: 19:00 GR
Venue: Toumba Stadium, Thessaloniki
TV: novasports1

A marquee match is set for Thessaloniki, as two of the Super league’s most improved clubs lock horns in Greece’s hinterland. After taking the league by storm, PAOK came to reality with a derby draw against local rivals Iraklis. Their Saturday opponents will prove to be a tougher task, as Panionios aims to make ground on the top quarter of the table.

PAOK was stunned by Iraklis last weekend, and success against a progressive Panionios will erase the bitter taste left by last week’s 1-1 draw. Managing to maintain the league’s only undefeated record, PAOK will be even more confident with the realization of a strong home record. Led by Zlatan Muslimovic, the Bosnian’s four goals this season have gone a long way to revive the ‘Dikefalos tou Vorra’. Another display of his goal scoring abilities could be required, as a high scoring Panionios invade Toumba.

Alvaro Recoba continues to spearhead Panionios, but last week’s narrow loss to Panathinaikos was a united effort by Ewald Lienen’s side. Alongside Recoba, Bernard Kumordzi and Fabian Estoyanoff are only a sample of main stream contributors for the Nea Smyrni side. Despite the three mentioned all available for the crucial match in Thessaloniki, another absence could leave a major gap in Panionios’ lineup. The unavailability of Lambros Choutos will surely trouble Lienen, who looks to replace the former Inter Milan striker with another piece of the Panionios puzzle.

If both sides play to their potential, an exciting match is the least spectators can expect. An intense match will be the result of two sides striving for the top of the table.

Skoda Xanthi vs. AEK
Saturday, November 8^th, 2008
Time: 19:00 GR
Venue: Skoda Xanthi Arena, Xanthi
TV: NET

Skoda Xanthi will try to hold down its second place ranking when the Thracian clubs gets a visit from AEK Athens. The visitors needed two late strikes to overcome Asteras Tripolis last weekend, while Xanthi cruised to a 2-0 victory over OFI on Sunday.

Xanthi continues to be guided by its strong defensive line, as a gritty approach to each match has seen the Thracian club concede the fewest goals in the league – with Olympiacos and Panserraikos the only sides to beat keeper Michael Gspurning. Offensively, fortunes have not been abundant, but Xanthi’s determination on the defensive front has allowed each goal to be even more monumental.

A week of presidential headlines has dominated the past several days for the Athenian giants, as the ‘Enosi’ scramble to replace a departed Demis Nikolaidis. The former AEK Athens star resigned after the heroic comeback, and a temporary instatement of Takis Kanellopoulos and Nikos Koulis has replaced a heavily criticised Nikolaidis.

A disappointing October was put aside last weekend, but the ‘Dikefale’ will need a united effort if they are to overcome Xanthi in a fortress-like Xanthi Arena.

Asteras Tripolis vs. Panthrakikos
Sunday, November 9^th, 2008
Time: 15:00
Venue: Asteras Tripolis Stadium, Tripolis
TV: N/A

Carlos Carvalhal’s days as manager of Asteras Tripolis could be limited, but that won’t distract Asteras in their search of maximum points against Panthrakikos on Sunday. As the rumour mill continues to push Carvalhal for a Tripolis exit, the climb up the Super League table continues to be delayed by the Peloponnesian club.

Last week Asteras held a slim 1-0 lead against AEK, and as the Super League dark-horses looked certain for a surpise result in the nation’s capital, AEK’s late scoring spree left Asteras deflated. Now, the side that emerged from the basement divisions of Greek football, is keen on emerging from a tough time with a win over Thracian club Panthrakikos. Scoring has been the Achilles-heel for Tripolis, but Marcelao’s sweet strike last weekend proved Carvalhal’s side has the ability to pummel Super League keepers – instead consistent bombardment is lacking.

Panthrakikos will know the Sunday afternoon match will be tough one, as the Tripolis Stadium has been made into a hellacious environment for visiting sides. Added to the fact that Panthrakikos’ away record has been poor, the wait to improve that record could be extended unless the Thracian club gives a valiant effort.

It is unclear how much impact Sunday’s result will have on Carvalhal’s stay in Greece, but if Asteras has any aspirations of staying in the Super League, Sunday is a must-win game for the home side.

Thrasyvoulos vs. Aris
Sunday, November 9^th, 2008
Time: 15:00 GR
Venue: Fyli Stadium, Fyli
TV: N/A

A recent string of matches has allowed Thrasyvoulos to begin the slow crawl out of the basement, but a tough task will plague the cub’s weekend as Aris make the trip from Thessaloniki for an afternoon clash in Fyli. Like their opponents, the visitors have also revived their season’s hopes in recent weeks – with a stunning 1-0 win over Olympiacos sparking the improvement.

Both teams have experienced falls from their season highs, as Thrasyvoulous’ stunning three goal comeback against AEK was erased when the side named after an Ancient Greek general fell to defeat against Panthrakikos. Meanwhile, Aris struggled against Larissa as both sides ended the match the same way it started.

With the new weekend giving both clubs an opportunity to continue the climb up the standings, it will be crucial that the opportunity is taken advantage of. With Aris entering the encounter as favourites, the match should be treated with caution as Fyli could host an upset if Enrique Hernandez’s side is ignorant of Thrasyvoulos’ tricks.

Ergotelis vs. Larissa
Sunday, November 9^th, 2008
Time: 16:45 GR
Venue: Pankritio Stadium, Crete
TV: novasports1

An up-and-down week was the result of an Athenian road trip for Ergotelis. A midweek makeup victory against Panathinaikos was then equalised by a loss to Olympiacos in Piraeus. With the defeat dropping the Cretan club’s ranking, a visit from Larissa could suffix for the side’s free falling state. On the other hand, Larissa posed a tough test for Aris last week, and another voyage could produce the same result for the ‘Vyssini’.

Ergotelis’s Patrick Ogounsoto has stolen headlines with his scoring efforts, but an unsung hero stole the show against Panathinaikos. Vasilios Koutsianikoulis’ man-of-the-match performance at OAKA initiated several transfer rumors; however, Nikos Karageorgiou’s decision not to start the Greek starlet four days later deflated Ergotelis’s dreams of defeating two of the league’s most powerful clubs in the same week. Now, a win against Larissa will only suffix fans convinced Ergotelis can challenge for qualifying European spots.

Facundo Parra’s four goals thus far have been instrumental for Larissa, but a weakened defensive display has made it tough for the 2007 Greek Cup winners to win convincingly. Recent performances have pitted Larissa on the same path as their opponents, but their direction of choice on Sunday will see which side captures full points from match-day nine.

Iraklis vs. Levadeiakos
Sunday, November 9^th, 2008
Time: 19:00 GR
Venue: Kautanzogleio Stadium, Thessaloniki
TV: novasports1

With Angel Pedraza no longer in charge of Iraklis, all eyes will be on Rodolfo Borrell in his attempt to lead Iraklis to its first win of the season. The time for success must be now, as a battered Levadeiakos rolls into Kautanzogleio.

Despite being winless in their last four games, Levadiakos’ record does boast better form than their opponents; however, Iraklis will be energized after a stunning 1-1 draw with PAOK. Levadiakos also drew last time out, as a scoreless stalemate was the result between Levadiakos and Panserraikos in Levadias.

For Iraklis, the return of several starters, including captain Anastasios Katsambis, will be the key to success; however, production from the offensive line – which has not awoken this season – will need to carry the load.

Levadiakos could in fact escape from Kautanzolgleio on the right side of a close game – as is the theme for Iraklis’ opponents this season. Despite the odds for a victory in their favour, their poor away record limits any advantages.

Panathinaikos vs. Olympiacos
Sunday, November 9^th, 2008
Time: 19:00 GR
Venue: OAKA Sypro Louis, Athens
TV: NET

The most anticipated match of the weekend, if not the season, will take place at OAKA on Sunday as arch-rivals Panathinaikos and Olympiacos meet in Greece’s version of the ‘El Clásico’. The latter will make the short trip from the port city of Piraeus to OAKA, but a hungry Olympiacos will have intentions of making it a long night for the hosts.

A midweek triumph in the UEFA Champions League against Werder Bremen, gives the ‘Tryfili’ the edge in momentum. A three goal second half performance lit the Bremen sky on Tuesday, and Henk Ten Cate’s side has more fireworks planned with aspirations of a derby win on Sunday.

Ernesto Valverde, like his counterpart, will take in his first ever instalment of showpiece derby in Greek football, but there will be no time for the initiation process. As Olympiacos continues to hold onto top spot in the league, their rivals are slowly closing in and Panathinaikos will be to keen to pounce at home.

With the visitors holding the lead in the all-time series, Panathinaikos will be hoping to grab bragging rights ahead of the return leg – not to mention the restoration of honor after a crippling 4-0 loss to their Piraeus rivals in the Greek Cup last year.

No matter the case, the season’s first edition of derby of eternal enemies will surely have plenty of excitement for spectators.