Matchday 4 produced quite a few surprises with Olympiakos and AEK both failing to secure three points away to OFI and Panionios respectively. In other fixtures, Larissa won at Panserraikos, PAOK were too strong at home in the Saloniki derby against Aris while Panathinaikos versus Ergotelis was postponed to enjoy a night in bed with Madonna (Madonna concert held at PAO's stadium).Matchday 5 is fully packed with important matches where Ergotelis and PAOK battle it out in a top 5 clash, strugglers Thrasyvoulos and Panserraikos clash heads to try and leave the relegation zone, and Aris face off with Iraklis in a match where both sides will be aiming to turn their fortunes around after poor starts to the season. Without a doubt though, our match of the week is the big Derby between old Athens foes, Olympiakos and AEK. This one is bound to have it all! A grudge match for both teams where Olympiakos will be eager to avenge their heavy 4-0 defeat to AEK last season.
Matchday 4 Results
OFI Crete 0 - 0 Olympiakos Piraeus
Panserraikos 1 - 3 Larissa
Iraklis 0 - 0 Panthrakikos
Levadiakos 1 - 0 Asteras Tripolis
Panionios 2 - 2 AEK Athens
Xanthi Skoda 1 - 0 Thrasyvoulos
PAOK Saloniki 1 - 0 Aris Saloniki
Panathinaikos - Ergotelis (POSTPONED)
Saturday, 4th October
Ergotelis - PAOK
Summary: PAOK was the only 'big 4' side to gain maximum points last weekend after a satisfying 1-0 triumph over their local rivals Aris. In form Ergotelis will be fancying their chances against PAOK at the Pankritio Stadium, despite their game against Panathinaikos been postponed last week. The week's break though may not of been enough to heal the wounds of defenders Charis Mattheakis and Eleftherios Gialousis, and Croatian striker Mario Budimir who has been undergoing daily physiotherapy. This game represents a good chance for both teams to cement their spot in the top 5.
Pick: LAY Ergotelis (possible result 1-2)
Ergotelis 0 - 0 PAOK
Aris - Iraklis
Summary: The Greek Super League ladder is starting to take shape now with the contenders sorting themselves out from the pretenders. These two teams would expect to be the former but their performances so far have left alot to be desired. Aris will especially be dissapointed with their start after managing a creditable fourth place and a Greek Cup final (lost to Olympiakos by 2–0) last season, under the reigns of now former manager, Dusan Bajevic. New manager, Enrique Hernandez, has it all to do today in front of the passionate home fans at Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium. The Aris manager will be hoping that ex Valencia midfielder, Mario Regueiro, will be able to produce an assist or two during this match. Aris will be without Brazilian duo Ronaldo and Diogo Siston due to injuries. Iraklis will be without the services of forward Aggelos Komvolidis, and defender Charalabos Perperidis, due to injuries but will be boosted with the return to full fitness of midfielders Francisco Martos and Serge Die.
Pick: Aris to Win (possible result 4-2)
Aris 1 - 0 Iraklis
Pick: Over 2.5 goals
Aris 1 - 0 Iraklis
Larissa - OFI
Summary: A steady start for Larissa so far this season, showing good form on their travels and solid at home. Their opponents in OFI had a good draw at home last week against leaders Olympiakos but they are still searching for their first win of the new campaign. Larissa has a full squad available including top goalscorers Facundo Parra and Marcelo Sarmiento. OFI will be without defenders Cosmin Barcauan, Minas Pitsos, Kostantinos Stavrakakis, and midfielders Fabian Gerber, and Stelios Sfakianakis.
Pick: LAY OFI (possible result 2-1)
Larissa 4 - 3 OFI
Sunday, 5th October
Olympiakos - AEK
Summary: Bad results and performances by the two Super League giants last weekend will have them keyed up for this match. Olympiakos will have the better morale coming into this encounter, following their UEFA Cup 5-0 thrashing of FC Nordsjaelland midweek, but could suffer from weary legs in a hotly contested derby atmosphere. Olympiakos will have some injuries to deal with as veteran midfielder, Ieroklis Stoltidis, and Brazilian left back Leonardo look certain to miss out. Doubts are cast over both Christos Patsatzoglou and Dudu, but they should be passed fit after suffering slight injuries in last week's OFI clash. AEK will be missing striker Rafik Djebbour but have a near full squad to choose from. A key midfield battle to look out for is the one between Argentinian compatriots, Agustín Pelletieri and Fernando Belluschi. We think that a repeat of AEK's 4-0 victory of last season is highly unlikely.
Pick: LAY AEK (possible result 2-2)
Olympiakos 2 - 0 AEK
Panathinaikos - Levadeiakos
Summary: Panathinaikos had the weekend off in Round 4 after Madonna took center stage at the Athens Olympic Stadium, forcing the Panathinaikos v Ergotelis match to be postponed. Panathinaikos though were involved in a midweek Champions League fixture against Timur Ketsbaia's Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta FC (famously knocked Olympiakos out of the competition only just over a month ago), going down 3-1 in front of a packed Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium. Losing in Athens this week against Levadeiakos is highly unlikely though, even if the visitors were victorious against Asteras Tripolis last time out. No injury worries for the two teams with Levadeiakos Argentinian striker, Eduardo Montoya, looking a good possibility to play.
Pick: Panathinaikos to Win (possible result 3-1)
Panathinaikos 2 - 0 Levadeiakos
Asteras Tripolis - Skoda Xanthi
Summary: Xanthi fought hard last weekend to get the three points from bottom dwellers Thrasyvoulos with the final kick of the game, thanks to Polish midfielder Rafal Grzelak. That was Skoda Xanthi's second away win for the season (2/2) and they will be looking for more of the same at the Asteras Stadium in Tripoli today. Asteras Tripolis will have to make do without Horacio Cardozo who serves a suspension after receiving his marching orders against Levadeiakos last Sunday.
Pick: LAY Asteras Tripolis (possible result 0-0)
Asteras Tripolis 0 - 0 Skoda Xanthi
Thrasyvoulos - Panserraikos
Summary: A 'six pointer' looms here with struggling Thrasyvoulos hosting fellow strugglers, Panserraikos. Thrasyvoulos have failed to score a single goal from their first 4 matches so far! Panserraikos, who sit just out of the relegation zone, have faired a little better and will be hoping that midfielder, Patrick Zoundi, can reproduce the same magic that single handedly gave Panserraikos their only win of the season back in Matchday 2. Panserraikos coach, Giannis Papakostas, will have a full squad at his disposal (including Romanian forward Valentin Badea) while his counterpart, Thrasyvoulos coach Sakis Tsiolis, will have striker Giorgos Poulakos available after returning from a long term injury. Fellow strike partner, Eystathios Karamalikis, is not so lucky as he continues rehabilitation.
Pick: No Pick (possible result 1-2)
Panthrakikos - Panionios
Summary: Both teams come into this match with good results from the previous weekend. Panionios twice took the lead against AEK at Nea Smyrni Stadium, only to concede deep into injury time as substitute Pantelis Kafes, managed to slot home for the visitors to make it a 2-2 full time score. Panthrakikos gained a point away to fellow strugglers Iraklis but will desperately be searching for their first win this weekend in front of their home crowd. Easier said then done. Sekou Berthe, Fabian Estoyanoff and Mehmet Hetemaj will all be missing (through injury) for Panionios while striker,Lampros Choutos, has been shown the door after a recent spat between the player and coaching staff. The good news for Panionios is that Alvaro Recoba is a chance to start this match. Panthrakikos will continue without Xenofon Gittas, Christos Pentsas and Okan Yılmaz due to long term injuries. Chilean midfielder Cesar Henriquez will also miss out due to injury.
Pick: Panionios to Win (possible result 0-1)
Panthrakikos 1 - 0 Panionios
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