Greek Football Season 2023/24

[Firnen]

MD 23

Atromitos - Aris 0-2
Volos - PAS Giannina 1-2
Panathinaikos - Lamia 2-2
AEK - Kifisia 3-0
PAOK - Olympiacos 1-4
OFI - Panserraikos 4-0
Asteras Tripolis - Panaitolikos 2-2

Standings:

AEK..................15-7-1.....52
PAOK................16-3-4......51
Panathinaikos.....16-3-4......51
Olympiacos........15-3-5.....47 (-1 point)
Aris.................11-5-7......38
Lamia...............9-7-7......34
-----------------------------------------
Asteras Tripolis....9-3-11....30
OFI..................5-8-10.....23
Panserraikos.......5-8-10....23
Atromitos..........5-8-10.....23
Panaitolikos........4-7-12....19
Volos................3-8-12....17
PAS Giannina.......3-7-13....16
Kifisia...............3-7-13....16


- I don't know if Jose Luis Mendilibar has a magic wand or has a lucky aura accompanying him, but he has something. After a debut with a win in Europe, the Spanish coach left his 1st Greek league match with a triumph, leading Olympiacos to their 1st win in a derby this season (in the 8th derby) and the biggest away win against PAOK since 1965! The scoreline is of course a bit flattering (as is usually the case with a big scoreline in a derby) but Olympiacos showed pulse and morale that they lacked under Carvalhal. With a masterclass performance from Daniel Podence (who didn't like Carvalhal and the reporters almost admit he was not even trying on purpose while he was coach) and new CB David Carmo plugging the holes the rest of the defense let, the red-and-whites exploited the gaps in PAOK defense and remained alive in the domerstic season. Olympiacos took the lead with Navarro only to see PAOK equalize quickly with their best player of the season, Despodov. The match was more or less even until Podence thundered a 2nd goal early in the 2nd half. PAOK tried to push, Despodov missed an one-on-one, but left space in the back which Podence and El Kaabi exploited with 2 more goals - while Despodov was stopped by the GK twice on the other end
- Where does that leave the 2 clubs: the defeat drops PAOK from the top and it's a bitter week for the Thessaloniki team with 2 home derbies lost in the return of fans in the stadiums. Olympiacos gained 2 weeks of calm for new coach Mendilibar (assuming they beat the minnows) to work with a constalty changing squad and lifted the morale for Europe. They are still the outsider for the title, both because they are trailing but also because of the likelihood to have another derby forfeited in the play-offs if the crowd feels robbed (the sentiment of the hooligans hasn't changed since December).
- Panathinaikos had their 2nd loss of points to a minnow against Lamia, who played 50 minutes with 10 men but faced the Greens bravely, took the lead twice and grabbed a point they can feel they deserved in the home match a few months ago. Panathinaikos had a huge chance to win in added time and owner Alafouzos exploded against refereeing and the sports minister and implied Lamia is AEK's lackey (that's known to everyone). Panathinaikos wasted a chance to go on top while Lamia holds their fate for top 6 in their hands: they need 2 points in the last 3 matches (Asteras is 0-0-7 against the big 4 and will likely go 0-0-8 against Olympiacos away). They have to face AEK and PAOK though, so the match between Atromitos and Lamia might determine 6th.
- AEK had an easy evening against the weakest team of the league, which became easier when the referee decided to give a super strict penalty+red card in the 4th minutes. They missed the penalty but the match was decided, and the final score was the only question. AEK goes on top, their strength behind the scenes is always there when they need it, and they are the favourites to win the league again spearheaded by their owner's control of the Federation (which is extremely important in Greece). But stranger things have happenned, we will have to wait and see.
- Asteras dropped points to Panaitolikos and top 6 is out of their hands now, Atromitos keeps sinking, OFI showed a sign of life in the debut of Traianos Dellas at the bench, and PAS got a huge win to catch Kifisia. The bottom 4 will fight till the end to avoid relegation.
- Speaking about that, Volos owner and mayor Beos is investigated by the sports judge for a racist attack against Kifisia player Tettey last week (0-0). Beos, who was sitting at the bench as usually, was caught on video shouting "He's faking it, the monkey" when Tettey fell to the ground for a foul. Theoretically, Volos could lose the match 0-3, it will be an interesting precedent.

[emortal]

I don't know if Jose Luis Mendilibar has a magic wand or has a lucky aura accompanying him, but he has something. After a debut with a win in Europe, the Spanish coach left his 1st Greek league match with a triumph, leading Olympiacos to their 1st win in a derby this season (in the 8th derby) and the biggest away win against PAOK since 1965!

Neither.

What he's got are the players that Carvalhal asked for in January and the sense/allowance to use them.

I mean he had to play with the clown duo Retsos/Ndoj, and now Medilibar has Carmo on loan from Porto with an 18 mln. (!) buyout clause for the summer. A former Carvalhal player at Braga that he specifically asked for.

Instead of Camara (who didn't even want to be there) and Alexandropoulos in midfield he could field Chiquinho/Horta.

... only to see PAOK equalize quickly with their best player of the season, Despodov.

Despodov may be the best player in the last 2 months, but both Taison and Konstantelias have a better season so far.

The Brazilian was missed yesterday, due to a stupid altercation with Bakasetas in the cup semifinal.
Which meant that Konstantelias replaced him as a left winger.

The match was more or less even until Podence thundered a 2nd goal early in the 2nd half. PAOK tried to push, Despodov missed an one-on-one, but left space in the back which Podence and El Kaabi exploited with 2 more goals - while Despodov was stopped by the GK twice on the other end

First two Olympiakos goals came from set pieces, with the PAOK squad sleeping during execution.

Next two came during counter-attacks after 80th minute, when PAOK was taking too much risk.

PAOK just lost the H2H in case of finishing level with Olympiakos, despite the 2-4 in the first round.
Which was 0-4 in the 75th minute, and the team giving away 2 goals in the end.

HL here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aD5hDjb3SM

Where does that leave the 2 clubs: the defeat drops PAOK from the top and it's a bitter week for the Thessaloniki team with 2 home derbies lost in the return of fans in the stadiums.

PAOK needs wins, starting with the 2nd leg of the cup semifinal.

The only team still in all 3 competitions (ECL, cup, league) in late February may be out of all three in a span of a few weeks otherwise.

Panathinaikos had a huge chance to win in added time and owner Alafouzos exploded against refereeing and the sports minister and called Lamia AEK's lackey (that's known to everyone).

Ahem, no he didn't.

In classic fashion he used platitudes ("Some teams are controlling smaller ones", etc.) so that when called by justice to testify he'll claim he doesn't remember or that he heard some rumours and doesn't have evidence.

Leaving aside the ridiculousness of railing against refs that just left your opponent playing with 10 men for 65'.

Panathinaikos wasted a chance to go on top while Lamia holds their fate for top 6 in their hands: they need 2 points in the last 3 matches.

Unless you know something I don't about the Olympiakos-Asteras game, Lamia needs 5 points to clinch 6th spot mathematically.

[Firnen]

Greek Cup SF

PAOK vs Panathinaikos 0-1, 2-1 (5-6 pen.)
Panaitolikos vs Aris 0-1

Panathinaikos advances to the Cup Final by getting away with murder in the return leg. PAOK was better for the whole match, sent it to extra time with a goal from Zivkovic, made it 0-2 with Kedziora, and then an insane sequence of events sent Panathinaikos to the final:
- Baba lost consioucness and PAOK had to play the added time with 10 players
- Panathinaikos scored in 120+9 with Limnios in their sole chance of the match,

Then in the penalty shoot-out:

- Panathinaikos missed the 1st penalty, everyone scoring the followings...
- until PAOK's 5th, where Dragowski beats Despodov.
- Then Limnios misses, but PAOK wastes the 2nd match point too, Dragowski beats Ozdoev too.
- 8th penalty, Arao misses, 3rd match point PAOK: Otto beaten by Dragowski!
- In the 9th penalty Sammatta slips, misses!

Panathinaikos is somehow in the final after creating a sigle chance in the 129th minute and their opponent wasted 3 "winning" penalties, and that coming after Olympiacos also missed a "winning" penalty against the Greens in the previous round!

[emortal]

Greek Cup SF

PAOK vs Panathinaikos 0-1, 2-1 (5-6 pen.)
Panaitolikos vs Aris 0-1

Panathinaikos advances to the Cup Final by getting away with murder in the return leg. PAOK was better for the whole match, sent it to extra time with a goal from Zivkovic, made it 0-2 with Kedziora, and then an insane sequence of events sent Panathinaikos to the final

PAOK is back!

The team took control of the game with possession reaching 70% at some point.
And, after 3 consecutive derbies, built up the attacks rationally from the back.

Meite and Schwab dominated the midfield, and Jonny Otto for the first time since being acquired showed glimpses of his class with his superb action leading to the first goal.

While playing as right back, he stole the ball on the right, passed to Taison and ran diagonally to the left.
There he received it again from Taison and, remembering his Wolverhampton days as a left back, delivered a sweet left-footed cross with Zivkovic finishing clinically.

Panathinaikos tried to respond in front of their fans, but they couldn't.
PAOK was simply better and, after wasting chance after chance, scored a second at 105' with Kedziora heading the ball in from a corner kick.

Panathinaikos was trying desperately to send the game to penalties, but was out of ideas and just sending the ball from the goalkeeper and the backs to the PAOK area.

Until the 115th minute, when Vagiannidis tried to get the ball and collided head to head with Baba.
Sending him to the hospital and leaving PAOK down to 10 men.

The rest was described by Firnen above.

I don't really care about the missed cup final (PAOK has been in 6 out of the last 7 and has won 4).
Except the fact that a Panathinaikos-OAris final could potentially bring some under the table transactions.

[Firnen]

Volos joins the list of Olympiacos, OFI and Kifisia as the 4th team to fire a 2nd coach during the 2023-24 season. Their 3rd permanent coach is Christos Kontis.

PAOK was handed an 1-match behind closed doors penalty for throwing stuff on the pitch (or somewhere else? Personally I did not see anything thrown, the reports cite this as the reason, now an article says it might have been in the stands) according to the new sports law. Interesting to see if it will be enforced equally or selectively based on what the Federation officials write down in their reports, because said officials tend to omit stuff when they happen at OPAP Arena, the stadium of the Federation's sponsor and benefactor club.

[emortal]

PAOK was handed an 1-match behind closed doors penalty for throwing stuff on the pitch according to the new sports law.

There was nothing thrown into the pitch, stop lying!

The police arrested a fan that lighted a fire-cracker, but didn't throw it.

The new law does not differentiate between the pitch, the locker room (!) or the stands.

If this is indeed enforced every derby will have a very high chance to result into a game w/o fans.

I don't stand AEK one bit, but in the new stadium they've managed to keep those idiots out or well-behaved.

Edit:
Edited to note it wasn't a flare, but a fire-cracker.

In a game where 27k people behaved perfectly PAOK is asked to play a game w/o fans because a fan "threw" a fire-cracker onto the protective net (not even the pitch).

[seso]

Can the B teams of Pana, Oly, AEK and PAOK in Super League 2 be relegated? Or is it in the rules that they cannot be promoted AND relegated? They are all in play-out positions at the moment.

This is the first season that they CAN be relegated. But in Greek football you never know, they may be relegated and latter reinstated for next season.

In Super League 2 South Group, Pana B and Oly B will be for sure in the Play-outs. The bottom 4 clubs will be relegated, so there is a good chance that one (or both) of these clubs will go down.

[TommyChat]

Can the B teams of Pana, Oly, AEK and PAOK in Super League 2 be relegated? Or is it in the rules that they cannot be promoted AND relegated? They are all in play-out positions at the moment.

This is the first season that they CAN be relegated. But in Greek football you never know, they may be relegated and latter reinstated for next season.

In Super League 2 South Group, Pana B and Oly B will be for sure in the Play-outs. The bottom 4 clubs will be relegated, so there is a good chance that one (or both) of these clubs will go down.

6-11 play in play outs and bottom 3 will be relegated. 12th placed is relegated directly. The original five relegations take into account Almopos Aridea and Ierapetra so 4 teams total will get relegated.

[Firnen]

MD 24


Lamia - AEK 1-3
Panserraikos - Atromitos 0-0
PAS Giannina - OFI 2-2
Panaitolikos - PAOK 1-3
Olympiacos - Asteras Tripolis 2-1
Aris - Volos 2-0
Panathinaikos - Κifisia 1-1

Standings:

AEK..................16-7-1.....55
PAOK................17-3-4......54
Panathinaikos.....16-4-4......52
Olympiacos........16-3-5.....50 (-1 point)
Aris.................12-5-7......41
Lamia...............9-7-8......34
-----------------------------------------
Asteras Tripolis....9-3-12....30
OFI..................5-9-10.....24
Panserraikos.......5-9-10....24
Atromitos..........5-9-10.....24
Panaitolikos........4-7-13....19
PAS Giannina.......3-8-13....17
Volos................3-8-13....17
Kifisia...............3-8-13....17



- AEK was the only top 4 team to have an easy weekend, as expected: they were the only one not to play midweek. The drama was off the pitch with Lamia coach Vokolos revealing that defender Tsiloulis signed with AEK before the match for the summer, and owner and city mayor Papaioannou contemplating firing Vokolos for bringing the friendly relationship of Lamia and AEK in the frontpages. He didn't after all for now - Lamia is having the best season of their history, the optics would be terrible.
- The 3 contenders who played mid-week all faced trouble. Starting with PAOK, they got caught sleeping by Panaitolikos, and were trailing very early while the home team missed another big chance. From there and for 70 minutes the match was run and gun, with PAOK hitting the post twice and scoring a goal cancelled by VAR for a hairline offside, with Panaitolikos having their own chances in the beginning of the 2nd half. PAOK's quality prevailed, with 2 goals in quick succession by Sastre and Zivkovic and a late 3rd one to stay alone 2nd.
- Olympiacos came very close to returning to crisis mode a few days after their European win. Mendilibar rotated the squad to rest some players and they had a lot of trouble against Asteras' compact defense. They scored twice but both goals were cancelled (correctly), and Asteras warned the red and whites from a set piece before scoring in the end of the 1st half with Yablosnky. Olympiacos threw in all the starters, pressed a lot but without many chances (apart from another offside goal) but managed to win the match in the last 15' with 2 goals from their top scorer El Kaabi: a penalty awarded by VAR and a tap-in after a rare successfull combination in Asteras' box. The Tripoli team fought a lot, between 1-1 and 2-1 they had 4 very dangerous counter attacks, but the final whistle found Mendilibar continue his Olympiacos honeymooon (4/4 wins) and Asteras banking on Atromitos to get points from Lamia to stay alive for top 6.
- The bombshell which didn't detonate in Agrinio or Piraeus did detoonate in Athens, with bottom Kifisia not only taking a point from Panathinaikos but feeling they could have won the match. The Greens, whose performances are going from bad to worse the last month, took the lead with Palacios in the 1st half and all signs were pointing towards a routine win, until CB Shekenveld saw a needless red card, Kifisia equalized soon after and the remaining minutes saw Fatih Terim switch to something like 4-1-4 and Kifisia galloping in the center of the pitch in multiple occassions, missing huge chances for the win, with the Greens missing a very big one themselves. The final whistle found Panathinaikos with another poor home result since the return of fans, and the newly promoted team half happy half frustrated with a point.
- Aris is floating aimlessly at 5th, Atromitos and Panserraikos retained their distance from the relegation zone, while PAS blew a 2-0 lead against OFI and now 3 teams are tied at 12th.
- Volos owner Beos was only fined 15k for shouting "He's faking it, the monkey" to Kifisia player Tettey. Yeah, not surprised sadly.

[rpo.castro]

André Horta playing very well at Olympiacos. Happy to see him show his quality. He had to leave due to problems with the clown coach

[emortal]

Starting with PAOK, they got caught sleeping by Panaitolikos, and were trailing very early while the home team missed another big chance. From there and for 70 minutes the match was run and gun, with PAOK hitting the post twice and scoring a goal cancelled by VAR for a hairline offside, with Panaitolikos having their own chances in the beginning of the 2nd half. PAOK's quality prevailed, with 2 goals in quick succession by Sastre and Zivkovic and a late 3rd one to stay alone 2nd.

I'm unsure whether you didn't see the game or don't know what "run and gun" means.

PAOK controlled the game after being a goal down.
With possession reaching 80% at some point and patiently passing the ball around in order to find a key pass or cross.

Whereas Panetolikos parked the bus, defended in their third of the pitch in a 5-3-2 formation, and especially on their flanks.
And tried to make the best out of the 2-3 fast breaks they got.

They came out strong in the 2nd half and had a shot on goal, again from outside the box, but that was it.

[emortal]

- Olympiacos came very close to returning to crisis mode a few days after their European win. Mendilibar rotated the squad to rest some players and they had a lot of trouble against Asteras' compact defense. They scored twice but both goals were cancelled (correctly), and Asteras warned the red and whites from a set piece before scoring in the end of the 1st half with Yablosnky. Olympiacos threw in all the starters, pressed a lot but without many chances (apart from another offside goal) but managed to win the match in the last 15' with 2 goals from their top scorer El Kaabi: a penalty awarded by VAR and a tap-in after a rare successfull combination in Asteras' box. The Tripoli team fought a lot, between 1-1 and 2-1 they had 4 very dangerous counter attacks, but the final whistle found Mendilibar continue his Olympiacos honeymooon (4/4 wins) and Asteras banking on Atromitos to get points from Lamia to stay alive for top 6.

One can summarize this disgrace in a sentence "Olympiakos got saved by the refs (both main and VAR)".

It takes a lot of effort to take the "worst dive for a penalty in 2023/4" title from Panathinaikos, but Podence managed it:
https://youtu.be/IUhGVPsPVkQ?t=398

[emortal]

André Horta playing very well at Olympiacos. Happy to see him show his quality. He had to leave due to problems with the clown coach

Do you know how big the buyout option is?

[Firnen]

André Horta playing very well at Olympiacos. Happy to see him show his quality. He had to leave due to problems with the clown coach

Carmo too. For once after the Sa-Semedo-Podence era, the agent networking of Marinakis with Portuguese agents benefited Olympiacos - its previous iterations had brought rubbish players like Gil Dias, Joao Carvalho, Oleg Reabciuk, Bruno Gaspar, Pepe, Tiago Silva, Rony Lopes, Bruno Viana.

[rpo.castro]

André Horta playing very well at Olympiacos. Happy to see him show his quality. He had to leave due to problems with the clown coach

Do you know how big the buyout option is?

6 M€.