Lemonis leads Panionios into Karaiskaki

By: Peter Katsiris | November 30th, 2008

Fresh from a 5-1 rout of Benfica, Olympiacos shifts is focus from European ambitions to Greek Super League title defense, as Panionios makes a visit to the Giorgos Karaiskakis Stadium. Led by former-Olympiacos manager Takis Lemonis, the Sunday guests will likely be a more vibrant challenge than the Portuguese side which was bombarded by Olympiacos’s offense.

The Greek Champions appeared to be in a slump in the later weeks of October, barely scraping through matches - fortunately collecting maximum points. Now, three weeks later, and Olympiacos has found its feet in grand style. A derby win over PAOK two weeks ago was compounded by a 3-0 defeat of Iraklis last weekend. With European nights producing even more offensive fire power, it seems the lingering nightmare from Nicosia has finally gone away; however, Olympiacos will wary not to slip back into the slump on Sunday.

A big part of this success has been the South American trio anchoring the Olympiacos attack. Luciano Galletti, Fernando Belluschi, and Diogo have combined for six goals in the last three games - equalling sixty percent of Olympiacos ten goal output in the club’s last three matches. With such a dynamic trio leading Olympiacos, opposing defenders have yet to solve the ‘Eruthroleuki’ chemistry. Despite plenty of attention given to the South Americans in the front line, Olympiacos has still emerged too powerful thanks to the likes of Predrag Djordjevic, Dudu, and Christos Patsatzoglou providing depth in the midfield.

With a tough match in Ukraine just days away for Olympiacos, assumingly Ernesto Valverde will rest his top guns on Sunday. Nonetheless, the starting eleven will be without Christos Patsatzoglou who is suspended; while Vassilis Torosidis could finally return from an injury.

Panionios made headlines in the summer when the club announced Alvaro Recoba was their newest addition. An injury to the former-Inter Milan player was likely to keep him out of the match, but Lemonis named Recoba to the weekend roster. Another Uruguayan will glee in the limelight as well, as Fabian Estoyanoff will likely be the creative chip in Panionios’ attack.

Picking up their first win in three weeks last weekend, the ‘Kyanerythri’ will be keen to continue the streak against the Greek titleholders. For their manager, the match might serve as a grudge match, as Lemonis faces his former employers for the first time since he was fired in February.

The match should provide plenty of action as Olympiacos looks to profit on their rivals’ blunders this weekend - AEK and Panathinaikos both drew. Panionios should prove to be a stiff test despite the Karaiskaki atmosphere; setting up another cagey affair in the Super League.