Olympiacos vs AEK: Piraeus Eyes the Crown, Union Seeks a Reaction

Olympiacos hosts AEK at the Karaiskakis Stadium (21:00, Cosmote Sport 1, live on Newsit.gr) for the third competitive match of the Super League playoffs. The two teams have entirely different objectives. Olympiacos, currently leading the standings, aims to secure their third victory this year against AEK on their home turf, with the goal of mathematically claiming the Super League championship. With a 10-point lead over Panathinaikos and AEK, a win tonight combined with a draw in the Panathinaikos-PAOK match could crown them champions for the 48th time in their history. Despite an impressive start in the playoffs with a 4-2 win over Panathinaikos, their loss to PAOK in Thessaloniki (2-1) temporarily slowed their momentum. Coach José Luis Mendilibar emphasized that there is no greater motivation than securing the title: “No matter what the coach says during the week, few words are needed. Everyone knows what’s at stake. We must enter strong and focused because nothing is given, and matches against AEK are always demanding.” Regarding absences, the Basque coach cannot count on Ortga, Kostoulas, and Ortega, while Lorenzo Pirella has been included in the squad of 22 players. On the other hand, AEK enters the derby after a difficult start in the playoffs. The Union suffered a shocking defeat against PAOK despite leading 2-0, and also lost to Panathinaikos at OAKA (3-1). Now tied with ‘Trifylli’ in second place with 53 points, Matías Almeyda’s team hasn’t officially announced the lineup, but Robert Lewandowski’s absence is confirmed. The Argentine coach faces several dilemmas regarding the starting lineup, especially on the right flank of defense, the center, and the attacking wings. As for the goalkeeper, Brinioli appears favored for the starting eleven. The referee for the match will be Italian Andrea Colombo, assisted by his compatriots Marco Checcone and Caleo Barri. Fourth official will be Ioannis Papadopoulos. VAR duties will be handled by Dutchman Van Beekle Martinus, while AVAR will be Petros Tsagarakis.