Big Athens Derby Ends In Draw

In a beautiful match, Panathinaikos were perhaps slightly on top in terms of chances, but Olympiacos could have clinched the victory, too, if they were more careful in their final attempts.

Senegalese forward Dame N’ Doye opened the scoring for the visitors on 15 minutes with a delicious strike from the edge of the area, only to see Olympiacos claw back in first half stoppage when defender Paraskevas Antzas took advantage of a scramble in Panathinaikos’ area to slot home from close range.

The equalizer produced an exciting second half, with the two sides pressing forward at both ends.

Serb forward Darko Kovacevic could have given the lead to the hosts seven minutes after the recess when he found himself unmarked inside Panathinaikos’ box. Despite shooting past custodian Arcadius Malartz, there was to be no celebration as left-back Lucas Vintra cleared off the goal-line.

Forward Dimitris Papadopoulos then missed a golden opportunity to hand Panathinaikos the three points on 67 minutes when he failed to beat Olympiacos’ keeper and eventual man-of-the-match Antonis Nikopolidis with a spot-kick. The penalty has been awarded for handball by Antzas.

Pananthinaikos continued to push forward, wasting a couple of other big chances to go ahead. The greatest one came from Austria captain Andreas Ivanschitz, who dribbled past two Olympiacos defenders before shooting. However, his sumptuous curling effort hit Nikopolidis’ left-hand post. 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder Simao took the rebound but even from close range found his shot too weak to trouble the goalie.

On 82 minutes another great chance to score a winner fell to Pana’s Dame N’Doye when he was fed behind the hosts’ backline. However, in a one on one with Nikopolidis he shot wide to the right, wasting the last real chance of the game.

This result means that AEK go top the table after 16 rounds with 36 points. Olympiacos are second with 35 and Panathinaikos third with 34.

Olympiacos play hosts to Panathinaikos again on Wednesday. This time, though, it's in the Greek Cup.

Athens awaits as arch-rivals face off

When the Greek Super League kicked off in September, an opening 0-0 draw between Panathinaikos FC and Olympiacos CFP set the tone for a tight title race. The arch-rivals meet again on Sunday as the second half of the season begins, and with just one point between them, there is more than Athens pride at stake.

'Nothing to prove'
Olympiacos will be the home team this time, and the title-holders have a one-point advantage on both Panathinaikos and AEK Athens FC. Coach Panagiotis Lemonis is keen for them to assert their authority, saying: "In a derby, your mind-set is usually more important than any tactics. We have nothing to prove. Our aim is to do our talking on the pitch. Panathinaikos are a big club, but at the Karaiskakis we're the ones in charge."

Kovačević key
That was not the case last term, however, when despite Olympiacos claiming a tenth championship in eleven years, Panathinaikos won both derbies. Yet Olympiacos have stepped up a gear this season, if their UEFA Champions League exploits are anything to go by, and the key is likely to be 34-year-old striker Darko Kovačević. He has struck 13 goals in 14 league games since joining from Real Sociedad de Fútbol in the summer – including two in last week's 2-1 win at Iraklis FC, which took Olympiacos back to the top as AEK lost 2-1 at surprise package Asteras Tripolis FC.

Perfect record
Another factor in Olympiacos's favour is their perfect record in eight home league outings this term, while only AEK can match their 30 goals scored – although Panathinaikos have conceded just six. Lemonis will field his usual 4-3-3 formation, but with midfield anchormen Ieroklis Stoltidis and Cristián Raúl Ledesma injured he will partner Christos Patsatzoglou with either Konstantinos Mendrinos or youngster Georgios Katsikoyannis.

González return
The visitors have lost defender Nasief Morris to the African Cup of Nations, giving a chance to Yosu Sarriegui, while midfielder Ezequiel González returned last week after more than a year out with a knee injury – lasting 45 minutes of the victory over Apollon Kalamarias FC. Whatever happens on Sunday, the rivals will face off again at the same venue in Wednesday's Greek Cup last-16 encounter.

Super League Weekend Preview: Round 16

Olympiacos are at the top of the table one point ahead of both Panahinaikos and AEK but their big advantage when the Greek “El Classico” gets under way will be their 33,000 capacity crowd at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. With a perfect record in eight home games this term this becomes easily apparent.

And with Panathinaikos’ main shareholder Giannis Vardinogiannis having set the tone high repeating an abusive terrace chant during an event attended by journalists and all of the club’s players and their families, a fiery welcome for the visitors is dreaded.

But football is played on the pitch and there Panathinaikos might have the advantage as Olympiacos’ coach Takis Lemonis will be forced to field his favorite 4-3-3 formation without key players Ieroklis Stoltidis and Christian Ledesma, who are out through injuries.

On the other hand, the visitors have lost defender Nassif Morris but are glad to welcome back after more than a year out midfielder Ezequiel Gonzalez.

History too favors Olympiacos but no matter what is going to happen on Sunday, the two sides will have a chance for a replay just three days later. This time, though, will be for the Greek Cup. And Olympiacos again will be the hosts.

Super League is not only the derby, though. Round 16 gets under way on Saturday with seventh-placed Panionios taking on fifth-placed Aris in what is expected to be a tight encounter between to equal sides.

Later the same day, AEK welcome lowly Veria. The Lorenzo Serra Ferrer side have fallen to third place but taking advantage of the resulting casualties from the “El Classico”, they might find themselves back on top. Not that the visitors will give up easily, but so far they have no away win and starting from now seems quite difficult.

On Sunday, the spotlight, of course, falls on the big derby, but the full program promises a lot more action.

The day starts with the tie between third-from-the-bottom Apollon Kalamarias against fourth-from-the-bottom OFI Crete. Here things are quite simple. The winners of the game will have the chance to take a deep breath before getting back into the battle for survival, while the losers should start worrying seriously about their future in the division.

Having added AEK to the list of scalps they have taken, after those of Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and PAOK, it’s only left to see whether Asteras Tripolis will be able to continue in the same high pace in the second half of the season. On Sunday, the newly-promoted side will find in their way Larissa, the only team that have managed to beat them at home this season, but now the hosts will have certainly a harder time to stop them.

Later, PAOK entertain high-flying Xanthi, while Ergotelis, who sit on the foot of the table, will be looking only for the maximum against Iraklis in their quest for a brighter future. The same applies for second-from-the-bottom Levadiakos, who play hosts to mid-placed Atromitos.