In Greece, Olympiacos Piraeus will be crowned champions for the 45th time in the club’s history. This preliminary conclusion can be drawn in advance of the championship playoffs. The only serious title competitor was PAOK Saloniki, who were recently punished with a deduction of seven points. The previous year’s champion must now also fear for the second place in the table.
AEK Athens sits PAOK close to the neck. The “Énosis” from the Greek capital separates only a single point from the second in the table. AEK Athens starts the championship playoffs with the city derby against Panathinaikos Athens. As in the other countries, there will be no spectators in the stadium until the end of the season. The mood in the Olympic Stadium in Athens is therefore cloudy.
The ball stayed in Greece for almost three months. Therefore, we would be in the derby between AEK Athens vs. Panathinaikos Athens rather advise against predicting a winner. Rather, this match appeals to us as a bet on a low-goal encounter.
AEK Athens:
After the point deduction for PAOK, AEK Athens now senses the chance of a starting place for the Champions League qualification. Only one point separates the “Énosis” from the second place in the table from Thessaloniki. While PAOK has to play in the top game against Olympiakos, AEK Athens will go to the city derby against Panathinaikos Athens.
In the Olympic Stadium of Athens, the venue of the “Énosis”, there has been no defeat in the last 15 home games (cross-competition). The last five home games have been won in a row – four of them with a clean slate. Coach Massimo Carrera and his team want to build on this when they start again in Greece.
In the regular season, the “Énosis” from Athens already won a home win over Panathinaikos. The Carrera team won 1-0 against the city rivals after scoring a goal from Araujo. We would not rule out a similar result in the upcoming home game, especially since many goals in the home games of AEK Athens are rather rare.
Behind the league leaders and record champions from Piraeus, AEK Athens is the second-best defensive in the Greek Super League with just 22 goals conceded in 26 league games. Coach Massimo Carrera will be able to draw on the full at home game against city rivals. It is quite possible that the same starting eleven will continue to be built after the long season break.
Panathinaikos Athens:
A total of ten games will be played in the championship playoffs. Accordingly, even the “Prasini” would have a chance of getting into the CL starting position, but would have to make a decent winning streak. If Panathinaikos Athens starts with a derby victory in the playoffs, at least the course is set for it. But there really isn’t much to suggest that the shamrocks win the derby.
Panathinaikos Athens did not perform well in their away games this season. Only four out of 13 away games won the shamrocks from Athens. It is rather unlikely that one of the strongest teams in the Super League will win an away win. The ghost scenery does not change this assessment either.
Before the almost three-month break in the season, Panathinaikos Athens remained unbeaten three times in a row, but only scored points against teams from the relegation playoffs. The shamrocks lost last time at the city rival. It is quite possible that the current series of “Prasini” will be ended again by AEK Athens.
It is not yet clear how the shamrocks from Athens will come out of the long break. Therefore, at AEK Athens against Panathinaikos Athens, a forecast on the 1X2 market should be treated with caution. Panathinaikos coach Georgios Donis can fall back on all regulars in the derby, but is unlikely to make any changes to the starting eleven.
Federico Macheda is currently showing great hope on the offensive. The 28-year-old Italian tops the scorer list at Panathinaikos with twelve goals and three assists. If the strong form from the regular season continues, Macheda will be a decisive factor in the cloverleaf offensive in the playoffs.
PREDICTION: AEK Athens FC to win @ 1,60
