Aris-Olympiakos: Bra-de-fer in “Kl. Vikelides”

Mars and Olympic intersect (20:30, Novasports Prime, News Bulletin 247, sport-fm.gr) their swords in “Kl. Vikelides”. A few 24 hours after the home thrillers against AEK and Panathinaikos respectively for the Betsson Cup, which had different endings, “yellow” and “red and white” face each other for the 19th matchday of the Stoiximan Super League.

The hosts have the psychology at the height after the qualification over the Cup holder, AEK, in penalties, but also because of the situation they are in lately. Since it has preceded the 2-1 over PAOK in “Kl. Vikelidis”, but also the 4-0 over Panaitolikos, showing that he is in his best form since the start of the season. Aris knows that in the event of a victory, he will get close to -2 Piraeus, but also that a “wounded beast” is always very dangerous.

Of course, Mr Akis Manzios he will also have to manage forces for his team, since the strain that occurred from the match with the Union was great. The 54-year-old coach will have Cuesta at his disposal, who is suffering from back problems and is doubtful. The presence (or not) of the hero of Aris in the match with AEK in this particular match will be decided at the last moment. Brambets, Christodoulopoulos, Matarita, Embondo, Rupp, Carlson, Delizisis, Agorastos and Kyriazis are out for the “yellows”.

On the other side, Olympiakos is called upon to manage a difficult situation. After the exclusion from Panathinaikos on wednesday, it left him, of course, wounds and let it come through the … russian roulette of penalties. The Piraeus are treating this match as a “final”, knowing that if they do not succeed, they will be far behind in the championship race, while it may put the 4th place in even greater danger. The “red and white” are in great need of victory in this match for psychological reasons as well, as such a “double” can be the… spark for a different continuation.

THE Carlos Carvalhal he is asked to manage his roster (just like Akis Manzios), after the players gave it their all in the derby with the “greens”, without the desired result. Emptying at the level of forces, but also spiritually. There will also be new faces in Olympiakos, with the newly acquired Tsikinio and A. Orta, who were announced on Saturday, normally in the squad, with the 58-year-old technician having two additional solutions for the center area. In contrast, the options for the strike line are slim. After Navarro left the match against Panathinaikos, while El Arabi is on the pitch and El Kaabi is in the Africa Cup.

It is recalled that in the game of the first round, Olympiacos prevailed 4-1 in “G. Karaiskakis”, with El Kaabi scoring two goals.

The Mars Mission: Cuesta, Houtesioti, Odubazzo, Montoya, Ferrari, Fatore, Fabiano, Rose, Veleth, Darinda, Verstrate, Manu Garcia, Ducouret, Dzouracek, Pardo, Suleimanov, Menendez, Zamora, Saverio, Moron, Fetfajidis and Panagidis.

Aris (Akis Manzios): Questa (Houtesiotis) – Odubazzo, Roz, Fabiano, Ferrari – Doukoure, Verstrate, Darida – Panagidis, Saverio, Moron

Olympiacos (Carlos Carvalhal): Paschalakis – Rodinei, Retsos, Doi, Ortega – Ese, Alexandropoulos, Carvallio – Masouras, Pontense, Jovetic

Referee: Kroch Hansen Morten (Denmark)

Assistants: Dennis Vollenberg Rasmussen (Denmark), Viktor Skite (Denmark)

4th Referee: Vasileios Fotias (Pellas)

VAR: Hansen Jonas (Denmark), AVAR: Reinhart Buxbaum (University of Attica)