PAOK welcomes Panathinaikos for the 4th Super League playoffs (20:00, Novasports Prime, Live from Newsit.gr) with both teams having a common goal in the game.
After all, PAOK’s difference with Panathinaikos is 4 points, with the Greens in the 2nd place with 56 and the Thessaloniki 4th with 52. which means that the race is of great importance to both teams.
Razvan Lutsescu’s team had an ideal start to the playoffs with two major wins against AEK and Olympiacos, but the defeat by Panathinaikos at OAKA 3-1 in the 3rd match cut off its forum and left concerns about its appearance.
The “biceps of the north” remains in the second place hunt, but to maintain realistic hopes, the victory needs at all costs. The recent tradition does not favor him, as this year in three games with the Greens he has not managed to win them over.
Lutsescu, as recently used to, did not announce a mission after training in New Mesimvria. Certainly outside is the punished Ozdoev and the unprepared Despontov, while Kamara returns.
On the other hand, Panathinaikos is flying after his constant victories against AEK and PAOK and wants to maintain psychology and momentum. The tie will not necessarily be a negative result, especially if AEK does not win Olympiacos, and is already counting three wins this year against PAOK.
Rui Vitoria stressed that each match is different and should not be compared to previous results, underlining the importance of the match. He will not have the punished Mennovic and the injured Bakassetta, Kotsira, Senkefeld, Fikai and Nika, while taking Magnuson’s mission, since there is only Max on the left -hand end of the defense.
Panathinaikos’ mission: Dragovsky, Lodigkin, Lilo, Vagiannidis, Max, Zeka, Ioannidis, Una, Tete, Palmer-Brown, Ingason, Cherry, Mancini, Limnios, Sfintiki Geremegev, Juricic, Arao.
Referee of the match: Harm Ometers (Germany)
Assistants: Dominic Saal, Stefan Lup (Germany)
4th: Stavros Cementeridis (Kozani)
Var: Johan Pfififer (Germany)
Avar: Angelos Evangelou (Athens)