The derby between Olympiakos and PAOK at Georgios Karaiskakis was painted red and white, as Jose Luis Mendiliber’s team prevailed 2-1 with Kini and Martins anointing scorers and Marcos Antonio reducing in stoppage time. With this three points, Olympiacos remains in contention for the championship, since it has one match less (as does Dikephalos).
Olympiacos celebrated its third consecutive victory in the Stoiximan Super League playoffs, as it prevailed over PAOK 2-1 in the Georgios Karaiskakis derby with Kini and Zelson Martins scoring the goals for the red and white goals and Antonio reducing in stoppage time.
The finals and xGoals in Olympiacos – PAOK
The Piraeus were better on the pitch for the longest part of the match and managed to take the lead in the 27th minute. Navarro won a penalty after marking Koulierakis and Pontense took over. Kotarski took the penalty, but Kinney took the rebound and scored from close range.
The three points for Olympiacos were locked in the 61st minute. Podense with an exemplary vertical pass brought Martins four-on-one with Kotarski and he beat him with a fine finish. Navarro also scored two goals, while the match was at 2-0, but both were canceled as offsides.
PAOK, although it seemed to freeze after the 2-0, managed to find the goal in stoppage time with Marcos Antonio, after a pass from Zivkovic.
Olympiacos with this three points remained fourth, but rose to 66 and PAOK remained at 67. The two teams have one game less, as the match between them in Toumba is pending.
This is how the two coaches lined up the teams
Jose Luis Mendiliber made eight changes in relation to the game against Fenerbahce, leaving Fortuni, Carmo and Rodney out of the squad.
Fewer changes than Razvan Lucescu who gave Sastre a starting shirt. In the midfield, the trio was composed of Murg, Zivkovic and Tyson, with Despodov staying out of the lineup. Meite and Ozdoev made up the duo in the axis.
Navarro upset PAOK, Kini hurt him
Olympiacos managed to score in the first phase of the match. Navarro got behind the PAOK defense after a Kini through ball and squared Kotarski correctly, but the assistant (also correctly) raised the flag for offside.
The Spanish striker was constantly creating problems for the Dikefalo defense with his movements. The same thing happened in the 18th minute when he again went behind the PAOK defense, from a Tzolakis charge, but through VAR the goal was not counted for offside.
In the 25th minute, Navarro won the penalty after marking Koulierakis in the corner of the area. Podense failed to beat Kotarski, but Kini did, putting Piraeus ahead of the score.
Navarro had a chance to score in the 29th minute after being set up by Kini, but his header went wide. PAOK threatened in the 30th minute with Baba’s shot that was blocked by Ibora, but also in the 44th minute with Zivkovic’s attempt that was also blocked by an Olympiakos defender.
Martins locked it in, PAOK reduced in stoppage time
Olympiacos threatened first and in the second half with Navarro. The Spaniard found some empty space and took the shot, but the ball went wide. In the 50th minute Tyson tried to threaten with a direct free kick, but the ball went wide.
In the 61st minute, Olympiacos managed to lay the groundwork for the three points. After a wonderful vertical pass from Podense, Martins sent the ball into the net with a fine finish.
PAOK failed to react and look for a goal that will put them in the game. On the contrary, Olympiacos was the one who tried to threaten Podense on two occasions. In the second, the Portuguese’s shot through the area was barely wide.
After the 80th minute, PAOK tried to get something in the match and managed to reduce the delay with Markos Antonio.
Statistics and best performances
Olympic: Tzolakis, Kini (90+4′ Vezo), Retsos, Abi, Richards, Ciquinho (78′ Ese), Ibora, Horta (85′ Carvalho), Martins (78′ Masouras), Pontense, Navarro (85′ El Caabi) .
PAOK: Kotarski, Sastre (78′ Yoni), Kenziora, Koulierakis, Baba, Meite (74′ Schwab), Ozdoev, Murg (59′ Despodov), Tyson (78′ Antonio), Zivkovic, Brandon Thomas (59′ Samata).
