AEK-Aris: With excellent psychology on both sides in the first step for the “8”

AEK and Mars put aside the league and turn their attention to the Betsson Greek Cup for the first match in the round of 16 in OPAP Arena (19:30, CosmoteSport2, broadcast by News Bulletin 247 and live update by sport-fm.gr), with the two teams looking for a qualification step ahead of the rematch in “Kleanthis Vikelidis” (17/01, 19:00) for a ticket to the quarter-finals of the competition.

The game finds the two teams with the best possible psychology and it could not be otherwise, since in their last competitive match they won crucial derbies, with benefits as gradedas well as level psychology in view of the continuation in the league and cup.

Initially, the hosts took a valuable “three points” with 2-1 in “Georgios Karaiskakis” against Olympiakos, proving once again this season dynamic who present at the derby. “Union” preceded with the nailed head of “hot”, Levi Garcia (scored his seventh goal in six straight games), also found a second goal with Steven Zuberexploiting in both cases the power of the stationary phases.

However, AEK conceded a goal from Giorgos Masoura shortly before the completion of the first half, while at the beginning of the second half they lost yards on the pitch, the Piraeus team increased their intensity and performance, without however consistently threatening the home team. of Stankovic. In the end, Matias Almeida’s team wasted several opportunities from a favorable position, however, in the end he got the victory that brings him to -2 from the leader, Panathinaikos, with whom he will face next Sunday (14/01).



In the competitions, Matias Almeida will not have him at his disposal Petro Mandalowho has been plagued by illness in recent days, with Mukudi, Zini, Mohammadi and Hadjisafi sidelined due to national team commitments. Datum the rotation from “Pelados”, which also happened last season in the cup matches, with Athanasiadis, Pelios, Galanopoulos and Ionson having the chances with their side to get a starting jersey. “Union” did not announce its mission for the game.

On the other side, Mars, showed excellent signs of recoveryleaving behind the upset defeat by Asteras Tripoli with the big victory over him PAOK in the clasico of Thessaloniki with 2-1. The “yellows” entered the match focused on the plan of Akis Manziou, who read Lucescu’s game excellently and punished him at the right moment.

In the first seconds of the second part o Suleimanov broke into the area and scored, taking advantage of his fine assist Saverio, who went on to become the MVP of the derby as he scored a superb finish moments later. The arrival of Constantelia helped the ‘black and white’, who went down with Baba, but the final whistle of the game found the spirited Ares celebrating a victory, which is capable to change his fate for the rest of the season.

The preparation of the guests for today’s match was completed yesterday without any unforeseen events, with Veleth, Verstrate, Rupp, Menendes, Matarita, Pavisic, Carlson, Christodoulopoulos, Delizisi, Sgouro, Kyriazi being out, while normally the “new ones” are in the squad , Rose and Fetfatzidis, as well as Agorastos, who signed a professional contract. It will hardly move on changes in the eleven Manzios, who was completely satisfied with the image presented by his players.

In detail, the mission of Mars: Cuesta, Houtesiotis, Odubajo, Montoya, Ferrari, Fattore, Brabec, Fabiano Leismann, Rose, Darida, Jean Jules Mvondo, Doukoure, Durasek, Pardo, Suleymanov, Zamora, Saverio, Loren Moron, Fetfatzidis, Panagidis, Agorastos.

Possible compositions:

AEK (Matias Almeida): Athanasiadis – Sidibe, Vida, Mitoglou, Pelios – Galanopoulos, Jonsson, Paolo Fernandes, Eliasson – Pissarro, Ponce.

Aris (Akis Manzios): Cuesta – Odubajo, Brambetz, Fabiano, Montoya – Darinda, Jurasek, Zul – Suleimanov, Saverio, Moron.

Referee: Matthew Yug

Assistants: Matej Yunich, Manuel Vidali

4th: Fire

VAR: Nejs Kaitazovich, Fotopoulos