Super League Round 2 (13/09 - 14/09)

The opening round of the Greek Super League was one of very few upsets with fancied sides Olympiacos, PAOK, and Larissa all notching comfortable wins.
The match of the round, the Athenian derby between AEK and Panathinaikos went by the way of the black and yellows with a 2-1 victory, Karagounis scoring a consolation goal for the away team deep into injury time.


Saturday, September 13
Skoda Xanthi - Olympiacos

Previous encounters:
Apr 13, 2008 Super League Xanthi 1 - 4 Olympiacos
Dec 29, 2007 Super League Olympiacos 2 - 1 Xanthi
Jan 7, 2007 Super League Xanthi 0 - 0 Olympiacos
Aug 19, 2006 Super League Olympiacos 2 - 1 Xanthi
Mar 18, 2006 Super League Xanthi 1 - 0 Olympiacos
Feb 9, 2006 Cup Xanthi 0 - 1 Olympiacos
Feb 2, 2006 Cup Olympiacos 1 - 1 Xanthi

Summary: Both teams are coming into this game with a win from Matchday 1, Xanthi taking 3 points away to Panionios (without their 07/08 top striker Rafik Djebbour who was agreeing terms to sign for Athenian side AEK) whilst Olympiacos cruised to a 3-1 home victory against Asteras Tripoli. This will not be an easy game for the title holders Olympiacos as was the case last year but they should be able to see off Xanthi thanks to their strong attack. Watch for Brazilian starlet Diogo to open his goal scoring account in this one.

Pick: Olympiacos to WIN (possible result: 0-2)
Xanthi 0 - 1 Olympiacos

Iraklis - OFI

Previous encounters:
Mar 30, 2008 Super League Iraklis 1 - 0 OFI
Dec 16, 2007 Super League OFI 2 - 0 Iraklis
Jan 21, 2007 Super League OFI 1 - 0 Iraklis
Sep 10, 2006 Super League Iraklis 2 - 3 OFI
Feb 11, 2006 Super League Iraklis 2 - 0 OFI
Sep 25, 2005 Super League OFI 0 - 1 Iraklis
Feb 27, 2005 Super League Iraklis 1 - 0 OFI

Summary: Both teams are coming into this match with home losses behind them and will look to get into winning ways. Iraklis will have the home advantage plus the return of Cypriot striker Michalis Konstantinou at the Lysandros Kaftanzoglou Stadium. This should be enough to see off OFI who were not impressive on Matchday 1 against PAOK.

Pick: Iraklis to WIN (possible result: 1-0)
Iraklis 1 - 1 OFI

Panathinaikos - Panthrakikos

No Previous Encounters.

Summary: The game will be total domination for home side Panathinaikos with newly promoted Panthrakikos playing the full 90 minutes in their own half. Coach, Hank Ten Cate, will want to use this match as a moral booster, after the loss to rivals AEK, in preparation for the upcoming CL matches. Gabriel and Ninis should be quite busy on the wings while Salpigidis and new addition Rodrigo Souza will no doubt look to get themselves on the scoreboard.

Pick: Panathinaikos to WIN (possible result: 4-0)
Panathinaikos 3 - 0 Panthrakikos

Panserraikos - Panionios

Previous encounters not relevant. Last encounter more than 10 years ago.

Summary: The winners of 2007-08 season of Beta Ethniki have had a good start in the Super League with a win away to Iraklis thanks to a brace by Patrick Zoundi in the first half. In the meantime Panionios has started on the wrong side of the table with a loss at home to Skoda Xanthi. They will be looking to redeem themselves here but it will be tough, especially without last year's top striker Rafik Djebbour who will now be wearing the AEK uniform. Panionios will rely on ex-Torino and Inter Milan new signing Alvaro Recoba to turn things around while Panserraikos will be in the mood to make it two out of two wins.

No Pick.

Sunday, September 14
Levadeiakos - Thrasyvoulos

Previous encounters:
May 23, 2007 B Ethniki Thrasivoulos 2 - 1 Levadiakos
Jan 14, 2007 B Ethniki Levadiakos 0 - 0 Thrasivoulos
Mar 27, 2003 C Ethniki Levadiakos 2 - 0 Thrasivoulos
Nov 24, 2002 C Ethniki Thrasivoulos 0 - 1 Levadiakos

Summary: Away losses were the results for both teams in the opening round of the season by Aris and Larissa respectively. This week, both will try to gain their first points of the new campaign. While Thrasyvoulos might be sporting a spanking new website, this will not help their cause on the pitch. Levadeiakos on the other hand will have Argentinian striker Montoya, for whom had good outings during pre-season matches, looking to open his account for the new season.

No Pick.

Ergotelis - Aris

Previous encounters:
Feb 3, 2008 Super League Aris 2 - 0 Ergotelis
Oct 7, 2007 Super League Ergotelis 0 - 1 Aris
Apr 18, 2007 Super League Aris 2 - 0 Ergotelis
Nov 25, 2006 Super League Ergotelis 0 - 1 Aris
Jan 23, 2006 B Ethniki Aris 2 - 1 Ergotelis
Sep 24, 2005 B Ethniki Ergotelis 1 - 0 Aris
Feb 12, 2005 Super League Aris 1 - 1 Ergotelis

Summary: Enrique Hernandez' Aris will not have it so easy away to Ergotelis this Matchday. Aris won their first round home match 2-0 against Levadeiakos while Ergotelis also had a great start to the season with a 2-1 win away to newly promoted Panthrakikos. Aris will be dangerous up front with former Valencia star Regueiro and goal poacher Koke. Ergotelis though will work hard in front of their fans and will be boosted by the return of Ogunsoto to the team, who single-handedly won the match against Panthrakikos by scoring both goals. A tough match beckons for Aris.

No Pick.

Asteras Tripolis - Larissa

Previous encounters:
Jan 13, 2008 Super League AE Larisa 1 - 1 Asteras
Sep 2, 2007 Super League Asteras 0 - 1 AE Larisa

Summary: Tough match to call between two very good sides. Larisa has strengthened their squad from last season with ex-Newcastle legends Nolberto Solano and Laurent Robert joining their ranks. Asteras has talented Argentinian midfielders Horacio Cardozo and Lucio Filomeno returning from injury but will miss suspended Jaouad Zairi, who saw red during the side's last match to Olympiakos, a 3-1 defeat. Larisa had contrasting fortunes on the opening day after enjoying a convincing 3-0 win against Thrasyvoulos to delight their home fans. Asteras new coach Carlos Carvalhal will be looking to build upon last season's tremendous home winning form which saw them defeat the four giants of the Super League AEK, Panathinaikos, Olympiakos and PAOK.

No Pick (possible result: 1-0)

PAOK - AEK

Previous encounters:
Apr 13, 2008 Super League PAOK 0 - 4 AEK
Dec 30, 2007 Super League AEK 2 - 0 PAOK
Jan 6, 2007 Super League PAOK 2 - 0 AEK
Aug 19, 2006 Super League AEK 0 - 0 PAOK
Apr 9, 2006 Super League PAOK 2 - 1 AEK
Dec 4, 2005 Super League AEK 2 - 1 PAOK
Apr 10, 2005 Super League AEK 2 - 0 PAOK

Summary: Second derby match in 2 matchdays for AEK Athens, this time away to PAOK in Thessaloniki. PAOK showed that they are truly up for the challenge this year with impressive wins recently against Udinese (friendly) and OFI away (Matchday 1). The home team will look to continue their good form in front of 29,000 fanatical fans. AEK will be boosted with new inclusions Rafik Djebbour and Agustín Pelletieri after their success against rivals Panathinaikos, last week at Athens Olympic Stadium. There will definitely be a few goals in this one!

Pick: LAY PAOK (possible result: 1-2)
PAOK 1 - 1 AEK