Olympiacos set for PAOK repeat

By: Peter Katsiris | March 8th, 2009

After a 2-0 win for Olympiacos over PAOK on Wednesday, the pair will battle once again on Sunday as the top two sides in the Greek Super League meet up at the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki. Wednesday’s meeting was for the Greek Cup, and Olympiacos’ extra-tome defeat to their Sunday night hosts was just enough to see PAOK head for the exit after Matt Derbyshire’s strike was enough to ease Olympiacos into the semi-finals.

In the wake of their Greek Cup defeat, PAOK has been tipped to put on an intense performance in the second half of their double-date with Olympiacos. Sitting nine points behind the Greek Champions, hopes for a title may have sailed from Greece’s largest city weeks ago; however, the playoff picture is still vivid for the ‘Dikefale tou Vorra’ as the battle with Panathinaikos for second place continues.

PAOK has yet to lose a match at home this season, and have already beaten Olympiacos in Thessaloniki after a 1-0 win over the Greek titleholders in the first leg of their Greek Cup tie. Furthermore, Olympiacos has gone winless in their last two visits to Toumba.

Although PAOK is expected to be a stiff side to crack on Sunday night, PAOK bench boss Fernando Santos will need to shuffle his line-up ahead of the match. Several suspensions are the cause for concern, including two mandatory suspensions for Vladimir Ivic and Pablo Contreras after the pair were sent off midweek in Piraeus. Pablo Garcia is also unavailable for selection, but Portuguese attacking midfielder Vierinha is expected to return to action during Sunday’s derby.

After their UEFA Cup exit, a derby win against PAOK has gone far to heal scars left by Olympiacos’ shocking elimination from Europe’s second-tier competition. Having also suffered a loss in Crete to Ergotelis, and held by arch-rivals Panathinaikos last weekend, the ‘Erythrolefki’ are winless in their last two Super League matches.

The visitors also have roster issues of their own, but Ernesto Valverde is determined to steer his side to success in Thessaloniki. The Spaniard may be limited to the touchlines, but will be an aspiring mastermind in Olympiacos’ bid to claim two defeats against PAOK in less than a week.

Luciano Galletti and Diogo will sit this one out after their enforced one-game absence was chosen tactically by Valverde.Troubled midfielder Sebastian Leto is also out, and it is a likewise situation for defender Didier Domi. Paraskevas Antzas continues his long layoff, while Giorgos Galitsios misses out through injury as well. Ieroklis Stoltidis, a permanent fixture on the injury list this season, also remains sidelined and frustrated by recovery.

The only player able to overcome their injury woes was Greece international defender Vasilis Torosidis. Missing out against PAOK on Wednesday, Torosidis was a late addition to the line-up on Saturday night.

Proof that this match will have its ugly side, there was a scene when the reserves of both sides met in their respective league fixture on Saturday. It seems to be right, however, that blood boils when these two sides clash as only the physical distance between the two clubs degrades what is an entertaining derby.