Fans of the Greek Super League were treated to an action-packed Round 3 which saw all four Greek Giants get wins to continue their push for top spot. Olympiacos handed new arrivals to the Super League, Panserraikos, a 4-1 beating while PAOK and AEK defeated Panthrakikos and Iraklis respectively by nervy 1-0 scorelines. Panathinaikos visited Aris and earned 3 very important points. Round 4 features the PAOK versus Aris derby in Toumba Stadium. The Battle of Thessaloniki is our pick of the week. Matchday 3 Results
Larissa 0 - 1 FC Xanthi
Aris Salonika 1 - 2 Panathinaikos
Panthrakikos 0 - 1 PAOK Salonika
Ergotelis 1 - 1 Levadiakos
Thrasivoulos 0 - 2 Asteras Tripoli
Olympiacos 4 - 1 Panserraikos
Panionios 1 - 1 OFI Crete
AEK Athens 1 - 0 Iraklis
Saturday, 27th September
OFI - Olympiacos
Summary: OFI has only managed two draws (away at Irakli and Panionios) whilst losing to PAOK in their only home game of this campaign. The good news for the Crete outfit is that they have few injury worries with only defender, Minas Pitsos (illness), and goalkeepers Arkadiusz Malarz and Alexandros Kasmeridis not available for selection. Olympiacos seem to have adapted well to Spanish manager, Ernesto Valverdes' playing style. The reigning Super League champions produced a stunning performance against newcomers Panserraikos last week and will hope to continue in the same form against OFI but it will not be as easy. OFI is a tough team to beat at home but Olympiakos should emerge winners nonetheless, even with captain Pedrag Djordjevic, Didier Domi, Leonardo and possibly Ieroklis Stoltidis all missing due to injuries.
Pick: Olympiacos to Win (possible result 1-2)
OFI 0 - 0 Olympiacos
Panserraikos - Larissa
Summary: Fighting hard to stay above the relegation zone, Panserraikos will host Larissa who have also been unimpressive this season. Only a few injury concerns for both sides here. Panserraiokos should be at full strength whereas Larissa regain the services of Laurent Robert, Nolberto Solano, plus strikers Maciej Zurawski and Facundo Parra. These a key inclusions for Larissa and they should be good enough here for atleast a point away from home.
Pick: LAY Panserraikos (possible result 0-0)
Panserraikos 1 - 3 Larissa
Sunday, 28th September
Levadeiakos - Asteras Tripolis
Summary: These two teams have much in common as both sit on 4 points on the GSL Ladder, both defeated Thrasivoulos to gain their first win of the season, and both will have a fully available squad for this fixture. Home match then for Levadeiakos and they will be looking to capture a win in front of their loyal supporters. Asteras though had a good outing last week away against Thrasyvoulos and will look to kick start their season, now that they are at full strength. This game is likely to be a very physical encounter and a great spectacle for the fans.
Pick: LAY Levadeiakos (possible result 0-1)
Levadeiakos 1 - 0 Asteras Tripolis
Skoda Xanthi - Thrasyvoulos
Summary: Down and out Thrasyvoulos visits 5th placed Skoda Xanthi this weekend and much more of the same is expected for the newcomers as Xanthi will be looking to win their first home match of the season. Skoda Xanthi have played some good football so far this season but have found it tough in finding the back of the net. Amazingly, the team has a 100% record in away games after defeating both Larissa and Panionios by 1-0 scorelines. In their only home game of the season, Xanthi suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to champions and current league leaders Olympiakos which is nothing to be shameful about. Bottom table Thrasyvoulos have yet to gain a point or score a goal this season and have conceded an average of 2 goals a game. To make matter worse for the visitors, Carlos Marcora, Giorgos Poulakos and Eystathios Karamalikis are all doubtful for this encounter.
Pick: Skoda Xanthi to Win (possible result 2-0)
Skoda Xanthi 1 - 0 Thrasyvoulos
PAOK - Aris
Summary: Big Derby this weekend in Thessaloniki with PAOK hosting Aris in Toumba Stadium. PAOK will be sure favourites going into this game as the team continue to gel nicely as a unit. PAOK manager, Fernando Santos, will have to make do without the services of veteran Portuguese Sergio Conceicao due to an injury that looks to keep the midfielder out of action for around 15 to 20 days. Aris will be looking to bounce back after their home loss to Panathinaikos last weekend. Injury clouds hang over Ronaldo Guiaro and Diogo Siston but Aris fans will be hoping that they are passed fit. Defenite starters for Aris will be the returning midfielder, Toni Calvo, and keeper Dimitrios Karatziovalis. PAOK seem too strong at the moment and new striker Zlatan Muslimovic will look to add to his impressive goal tally of 3 in 3 games.
Pick: PAOK to Win (possible result 3-1)
PAOK 1 - 0 Aris
Iraklis - Panthrakikos
Summary: A very important match beckons for both teams as it is likely that they will be both fighting the drop this season. Ofcoarse, three points are up for grabs here but the victory will provide a huge morale boost after both teams went down last week. Panthrakikos manager, Emilio Ferrera, announced that there will not be many changes to the squad that lost to PAOK last weekend and that he wanted his team to create more opportunities in front of goal. Defender Juan Velasco is the only injury concern for the away team but should be available for the clash. During the week, Iraklis trained on their forward play in the hope that they will be able to break down the Panthrakikos rear guard. On the injury front, Iraklis retain the services of Ivorian midfielder, Serge Die, who has been included in the squad. Sidelined this weekend are Francisco Martos and Aggelos Komvolidis who continue with light training. In what promises to be a tightly contested battle, Iraklis Cypriot striker Michalis Konstantinou could be the decider in this one.
Pick: Iraklis to Win (possible result 1-0)
Iraklis 0 - 0 Panthrakikos (Iraklis missed a penalty)
Panionios - AEK
Summary: AEK comes into this match just one place and 2 points behind league leader Olympiacos. The Athenians will look to continue their unbeaten away to Panionios in the Nea Smyrni Stadium. AEK manager, Giorgos Donis, will have a full squad to choose from apart from new signing Algerian international, Rafik Djebbour, who is still undergoing light training sessions. Panionios is expected to line up with a similar first eleven that played out a home draw against OFI in Round 3. This match will come to soon for strikers Alexandre D'Akol, Anderson Gonzaga and Alvaro Recoba plus midfielder Fabián Estoyanoff.
Pick: LAY Panionios (possible result 2-2)
Panionios 2 - 2 AEK
***Game postponed till next month***
Monday, 29th September
Panathinaikos - Ergotelis
Summary: Panathinaikos plays at home against spirited Ergotelis this weekend and after a good comeback against Aris (1-2) last week, Ten Cate's men will be in the mood for another victory. Ergotelis on the other hand dropped a sure 3 points at home against Levadeiakos with Dimitris Orfanos giving the home side the lead just 2 minutes into the match, only for Levadeiakos to equalize through striker Eduardo Ariel Montoya in the 36th minute. Panathinaikos' Rodrigo Souza and Dimitris Salpingidis are likely to prove a handful for the Ergotelis defence whilst Andreas Ivanschitz will reak havoc from set piece situations.
Pick: Panathinaikos to Win (possible result 2-0)
***Game postponed till next month***
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