My early view for the Greek league this weekend, because I won’t be on-line tomorrow:
IONIKOS- JANNINA It is a game crucial for both parts, but especially for Ionikos. They drew last week away at Egaleo(they were quite lucky though). Jannina has had an offensive problem till now, as they created several chances, even against AEK last week, but couldn’t score. This week they will have 2 recently transferred strikers in their squad, as well as Hanadu, another new player. The game is difficult to predict. No bet for me.
XANTHI- PROODEFTIKI Both teams with bad results lately. Xanthi has had many absences last week against PAOK and their center forward had to play as libero! Now, things have returned more or less to normal and Xanthi should win against Proo even if they still have some absences(should wait for latest news). 1.65 is very low though, for a team which did not win their last 2 home games, against teams worst than Proodeftiki. No bet.
PANAHAIKI- PANIONIOS: Panahaiki continue to struggle, despite last 2 surprises against Aris and Iraklis. In both games, they managed to score in the only chance they created. Now they are playing at home against hot Panionios, and normally they will have to play more open in order to get the 3 points from that game. This will make things easier for Panionios, who plays very good lately and has won against much stronger teams than Panahaiki. Only thing that points against away win is that in the games between these 2 teams, the home side did never lose…May be now is the right time for this to happen. Panionios to win at odds >2 is a good choice IMO
OFI- AKRATITOS: Ofi playing much better lately, was quite unlucky to lose last week away at Olympiakos. Their coach agreed to stay for 1 more year in Crete. Akratitos on the other hand is playing bad, and was very lucky to gain a last minute draw against Kallithea with a fake penalty given by the referee. Akratitos has also 3 important absences while there is one more player doubtful. I am quite confident for the home win and 1.50 is quite satisfactory (many book do not offer the game any more. There is no apparent reason for that, apart from 1.5 being too much)
ARIS- EGALEO: Aris has many problems and even if they have had a good start, they are playing very bad lately. Egaleo is a strong, disciplined team with good morale, after their away win against Panathinaikos for the cup. No absences for Egaleo. It will be very difficult for Aris to win. Don’t forget that in the first round, Egaleo won 3-0, at a time when Aris was playing good. Egaleo +3/4 @ 1.82 looks very tempting!
PANATHINAIKOS- AEK: Panathinaikos in very good form despite their defeat against Egaleo for the cup. They played with 100% second team and the result (as coach of Egaleo also admitted) was not fair. It is a very important game for both teams. AEK will miss their keeper, and young Michailidis is going to take his place(he has only played in 2 cup games this year, as well as a substitute, for 40’minutes in the league!). Apart from keeper problem, defender Kapsis is doubtful and it seems unlikely for him to play. On the other hand, no problem for Panathinaikos. Home win seems to be the most possible result here. Odds>2 are acceptable.(not 1.92 at GB though). I’ll stay away and watch the game on TV!
KALLITHEA- PAOK Kallithea won in the first round 3-2 away, which was a BIG surprise. Paok is playing good with an exception of last week when they won at home against Xanthi 1-0, but with a bad performance. 2 players are definitely out for PAOK, while another 2 are quite unlikely to play. Away win the most probable result, BUT No bet for me!
OLYMPIAKOS- IRAKLIS: Olympiakos in not very good condition recently, won against Ofi last week, even though they did not deserve it. Their coach Katanec was fired, after he said that there is a lot of pressure on the team by the press and the fans in order to take the trophy and that there is no player in the team who could lead the team to success!!! Oleg Protasov will sit on the bench instead. The absence of their coach could have unpredictable influence on the players. Bad or good. The only sure thing is that it is a must win situation for Olympiakos and the pressure is high. Iraklis has also been playing bad lately. In fact it is a very unstable team. They have one defender missing and another player doubtful.Both teams with not the best morale. Because Olympiakos resembles to last year Panathinaikos in the way they perform and because of the latest news as well as the ridiculous odds, I’ll stay away from home win. If they do not score early, it will be very difficult for them to score, as they get nervous. Small bet on Iraklis +1.75 @ 1.82.
