Greek Football Season 2023/24

[emortal]

No-one in this thread said that Olympiakos is to blame for all violence plaguing Greek football.
But they sure are to blame for the string of incidents of the last couple of months that led to this decision.

And it's not just their "fans", it's the entire CO (criminal organization).
It doesn't even look football-related, more like a vendetta between the mafia-boss owner of Olympiakos (plus Nottingham Forest, Rio Ave) and the prime minister.

What is enraging is that this circus government essentially gave in to a mafia boss, and blamed the football fans (the easy victim) for it.
So that ignorant third-party on-lookers like yourself can dismiss it as another feat of "those crazy football fans".

Interesting developments in the case of the 31 y.o. policeman murdered by Olympiakos hooligans back in December.

Last week police arrested 60 persons, many of them members (some leading) of the Olympiakos fan club "Gate 7".

In the words of a police spokesperson:

Facts pointing to the existence of a CO (Criminal Organization), composed of up to 158 persons, have been found. They have, at least since 2019, been committing criminal acts in Athens, Ioannina and Volos.

And later:

58 houses and 15 vehicles have been searched and multiple evidence items have been seized, like guns, bats, knifes, drugs and others.

Shocking dialogs have come to light from phone conversations between the accused.
They were bragging about the murder

Yesterday 10 arrested persons were questioned by the prosecutor, with 3 of them being jailed.
The procedure continues today.

Also, today it came to light that the 18 y.o., that has been charged with murder, has given names.

In unrelated events, the VP of Olympiakos who was very vocal until 3 months ago, has disappeared from public view lately.

[TommyChat]

Apollon Smyrnis and Veria, two years after getting relegated from Superleague and losing promotion play offs for it respectively have been relegated from 3rd division to local FCA Championships. The former will play in Athens FCA Championship for the first time since the creation of the national division in 1959. Doxa Drama also notably failed to survive in 3rd division and will face local level as well for the first time since 1959. Kastoria as well but for them it's common to play in local leagues in recent years.

Olympiacos Volou who played at local level for the first time since the creation of 2nd division in 1962 will play in promotion play offs for a spot at 3rd division.

[TommyChat]

Ethnikos Neou Keramidiou is the 4th and final team promoted to 2nd division. Neo Keramidi is a village near Katerini with 511(!!!) inhabitants according to 2021 census.
A notable names in 3rd division play outs as well. Proodeftiki will play AER Afantou.

Olympiacos B is 8 points behind safety in 2nd division with 3 games to go and with 3rd division being amateur with most pitches being extremely bad (many 2nd division pitches are not much better) it is not sure if they'll play there. There are many complaints by Oly for referies in play outs but I haven't watched any of their games.
Panathinaikos B is 4 points behind safety and it's hard for them as well to survive.

[Firnen]

Play-Offs MD8

Olympiacos - Lamia 4-1
PAOK - AEK 3-2
Panathinaikos - Aris 0-1

AEK.................22-9-3......75
PAOK................22-5-6......71 (-1 match)
Panathinaikos.....22-5-7......71
Olympiacos........22-4-7......70 (-1 match)
Aris.................15-7-12.....52
Lamia...............9-8-17.....35

Drama in the play-offs this Saturday, with PAOK keeping the title fight alive!

PAOK in a suspenseful derby takes down AEK in the 90th minute and keep their title hopes alive! The home team took an early lead but AEK had a quick answer and was the better team in the 1st half but without scoring again. In the 2nd half PAOK was on the front foot, but AEK scored against the run of play, only for PAOK to complete a huge return with 2 late goals (helped by the arrogant sub of AEK coach Almeyda) by Konstantelias and Sastre. In the end of the match, sore loser Almeyda tried to fight someone from PAOK's bench and had to be restrained by his assistant, Carlos Roa.

With this result, both PAOK and Olympiacos are still alive, but they need to win all 3 games (it's a given that AEK beats Lamia in their last match).
Their next match: PAOK v Olympiacos, May 12th, the winner battles AEK for the title, if it's a draw, then AEK are champions!

And that's because Panathinaikos is knocked out! In a shocking result, Aris beats the Greens away and keeps them away from the league title for a 14th consecurive season! A really underwhelming result for Panathinaikos given PAOK's gift which ruins their league campaign. The two teams will clash in the Cup Final and Aris got a huge morale boost while Fatih Terim's team has to salvage the top 3 first.

Play-outs MD6

Asteras Tripolis - OFI 1-1 Volos 2-0
Kifisia - PAS Giannina 2-3
Panaitolikos - Atromitos 1-0
Volos - Panserraikos 1-0

Panserraikos......8-11-12....35
Asteras Tripolis...10-5-17....35
OFI................7-14-11.....35
Atromitos.........7-13-12....34
Panaitolikos........8-9-15....33
Volos................8-8-16....32
------------------------------------------
Kifisia.............6-10-16.....28
PAS Giannina......4-10-17....22

Kifisia goes down the way they came!

Poetic justice for Kifisia, a team with no fans who got promoted because of background connections and had referee assistance up until the very last match, to be dragged down by the other relegated team, the one which had zero power and connections and paid for it.

Volos and Panaitolikos will be in the Super League for another season.

As @TommyChat said, Apollon Smyrnis and Veria, two teams recently in the Super League go down to the 4th division alongside Doxa Dramas, while cult 90s-00s team Proodeftiki will play in relegation play-outs.

[emortal]

In a game where everything was going wrong (AEK went ahead 1-2 in the 75th min.), PAOK found the mental strength in the last quarter to score twice.

And even missed a chance in extra time to completely turn things around.
This means AEK will finish ahead in the ranking in case of having the same points due to the goal difference.

Konstantelias delivered a legendary performance for the ages, scoring twice and having another shot on goal

In essence, AEK will reach at least 78 points since they play Lamia at home in the last MD.
If they beat Olympiakos away in their next game they'll be champions back to back.

Olympiakos will be champions if they win 3/3 remaining games (@ PAOK, vs AEK, @ Panathinaikos).

PAOK needs 3/3 wins (vs Olympiakos, vs Panathinaikos, @ Aris) and Olympiakos to get at least a draw vs. AEK.

PAOK-Olympiakos is scheduled for 12/5.
MD9 for 15/5 and MD10 for 19/5.

[TommyChat]

@Firnen PAOK - Olympiacos is on May 12th (On my name day )
There is a two week break for PAOK and 17 days one for the rest except Olympiacos.
The latter of course has rendezvous with history before the league continues.

[seso]

Olympiakos B has been relegated to the third division. Panathinaikos B is also in a precarious position...

[Firnen]

Kallithea returned to the Super League after 18 years. They are owned by an American fund.

[Firnen]

Play-Offs MD5 (postponed originally)

PAOK - Olympiacos 2-0

AEK.................22-9-3......75
PAOK................23-5-6......74
Panathinaikos.....22-5-7......71
Olympiacos........22-4-8......70
Aris.................15-7-12.....52
Lamia...............9-8-17.....35

A physically and mentally exhausted Olympiacos easily lost to PAOK and lost the title for a 2nd year in a row.

AEK and PAOK will fight for the title, with PAOK needing 2 wins against Panathinaikos and Aris and AEK not to beat Olympiacos away.

The amazing European campaign saved a shameful domestic season for Olympiacos, who lost again a title they (rightfully) see as theirs to lose. All focus is now on beating Fiorentina the 29th of May at any cost.

Play-Outs MD7

Atromitos - Asteras Tripolis 0-1
PAS Giannina - Volos 1-1
OFI - Panaitolikos 1-2
Panserraikos - Kifisia 2-0

Final Standings:

Panserraikos......9-11-12....38
Asteras Tripolis...11-5-17....38
Panaitolikos........9-9-15....36
OFI................7-14-12.....35
Atromitos.........7-13-13....34
Volos................8-9-16....33
------------------------------------------
Kifisia.............6-10-17.....28
PAS Giannina......4-11-17....23

[emortal]

PAOK gets the crucial win vs Olympiakos in the postponed play-offs game

Zivkovic assisted the first goal (26' Taison), scored the second (65', assist by Konstantelias) and got into a brawl with Podence that led to the latter's yellow card. And all that in 75'.

This leads now to the most exciting finish to the season the Greek league has seen in at least 20 years.

With 2 MDs left there are only AEK and PAOK still contending for the title:
https://www.slgr.gr/en/scoreboard/

Since AEK is playing minnow Lamia at home last, which they are sure to beat, things are quite simple.

If AEK wins against Olympiakos on Wednesday they are champions again.
If they don't, they'll hope that PAOK doesn't beat Panathinaikos at home and Aris away.
In which case the title goes to Thessaloniki.

Now you might be thinking that the season is over for Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, so they might as well lose their remaining games easily.
But none of them wants to be left at 4th place, which doesn't give an ECL ticket if Aris wins the cup!

[NederPAOKtzis]

PAOK is guaranteed of minimum ECL as Pana and Oly face eachother and PAOK has the upperhand in the HTH against Pana and is exactly the same against Oly but we finished first in the regular season.

[bossake]

what a game could be an Aris - Paok with Paok needing to win to get the title and probably Aris fighting to death for not giving the title to the rivals.

But for this scenario to happen is needed Paok winning home vs Panata and Aek not winning away at Oly.

[og2002gr]

Last season everyone was united against PAO in order AEK to win the title.

This season everyone will be united against AEK in order PAOK to win the title.
Olympiacos has already announced that they support PAOK and they are going to give AEK a hard time.
Panathinaikos will show no resistance against PAOK.

So probably everything will be decided in the very last game: Aris VS PAOK