The time has come for the big battle between AEK and Olympiakos at the OPAP Arena. The two teams face each other on Thursday night (9/2, 20:30), in the first semi-final between them for the Novibet Greek Cup.
The game will be televised by Cosmote Sport 1 HDradioed by News Bulletin 247while there will be a live broadcast from sport-fm.gr.
This is the second clash between the two teams this year – after 0-0 in “G. Karaiskakis” for the first round of the Stoiximan Super League – and four more are expected to follow until the end of the season for both competitions.
Of course, this match will also constitute the return of Piraeus to New Philadelphia for a match with AEK after more than 20 years. The last time the two teams met at the physical headquarters of “Enos”, in “Nikos Goumas” then, it was on November 9, 2002with the match ending 1-1 (44′ Nikolaidis – 30′ Djordjevic).
In his… today, it is normal that both want to qualify for the final, where they will face the winner of the PAOK-Lamia match. On the one hand, because it concerns the claim of a title (let alone for the one who will not be able to win the championship), on the other hand, for reasons of prestige.
On the one hand, AEK is running seven-game winning streak in league and Cup. Of course, her last match in time was the one against Aris in the OPAP Arena (3-0) on January 29. And this is because last Sunday (5/2) her game against Atromitos in Peristeri postponed due to the problem with the height in the hearths. So – with less matches – he saw Panathinaikos overtake them again, so to speak -1 from first place. In the seven games above, the rematch with Kifissia for the “16” of the Cup is also included, as well as the two games with Panserraikos for the “8”. It is recalled that PAS Ioannina was the first team eliminated by the “yellow and black” on their way to the semi-finals.
It should be noted that PAE AEK has appealed to its friends to support the team only with their voice. “We should react with coolness, apathy and even humor to any possible provocation“, among other things, the “yellow and black” noted in their announcement.
From then on, the Matias Almeida -who will clearly try to keep the “yellow and black” unaffected by the… non-competitive part of the match with Atromitos- reserved many surprises in the preparation of the mission. In particular, the technician of “Enos” – who seems to be going for… Cup eleven – left them out for reasons of rotation Arnold Mukudi, Lazaro Rota and Jens Jonson, without any of the three facing a problem. It also doesn’t count the injured Paolo Fernandez and Milad Mohammadiwith the former not being able to overcome the crush that afflicts him.
The mission of AEK: Stankovic, Athanasiadis, Theocharis, Vida, Mitoglou, Hadjisafi, Sidibe, Tzavellas, Radonia, Daiko, Simanski, Gatsinovic, Pineda, Franson, Mandalos, Galanopoulos, Amrabat, Garcia, Van Weert, Zuber, Araujo, Eliasson, Kosidis.
On the other hand, Olympiacos comes from the “white” draw (0-0) in the away derby with PAOK. Thus, the two teams remained equal (the Piraeus are 4th, trailing in the tie between them), in -4 from AEK and to -5 from Panathinaikos. In the Cup, he found himself thus far eliminating Atromitos and Aris in order. Certainly, in addition to the above reasons, there is also an extra motivation in the ranks of Piraeus and this is none other than being the first team to leave the OPAP Arena with a victory, where AEK counts eleven wins in as many matches.
The “red and white” did not announce a mission. However, Mitchell confirmed at yesterday’s press conference that he has everyone available except Marcelo and Sisetherefore also them Hames and Huangannouncing his presence Tzolakis in the hearth.
The possible lineups
AEK (Almeida): Stankovic – Sidibe, Vida, Mitoglou, Hadjisafi (Radonia) – Eliasson, Pineda, Simanski (Galanopoulos), Gatsinovic – Araujo (Zuber), Garcia (Van Weert).
Olympiacos (Mitchell): Tzolakis – Rodinei, Papastathopoulos, Doi, Reabciuk – Samasekou, Embila, In-Bom – Biel, Kanos, El Arabi.
Referee: Nikola Dabanovic (Montenegro)
First Assistant: Vladan Todorovic (Montenegro)
Second assistant: Srdan Jovanovic (Montenegro)
4th referee: Vasileios Fotias (Pellas)
VAR: Krzysztof Jakubiek (Poland)
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
