Aris Thessaloniki will be looking to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Olympiakos in the Greek Cup quarter-finals. The defeat was deserved, but coach Akis Matzios wants things to go better on home soil. The dress rehearsal last weekend can be encouraging: Atromitos were clearly defeated 3:0.
However, their opponents are currently in poor form and have not won in four rounds of matches. The visitors, on the other hand, arrive as leaders of the Super League and last week also knocked PSV Eindhoven out of the Europa League. The country’s record champions thus continue to dance on three high tides.
For the match at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium between Aris Thessaloniki and Olympiakos Piraeus, the betting tips are under 2.5 goals. ✅
Prediction & Live Odds for Aris Thessaloniki – Olympiakos Piraeus Greece
According to the Super League table, Aris and Olympiakos are currently the best teams in Greek football. However, the gap between the home side and the visitors is still very wide. The players from Thessaloniki can hardly keep up with the record champions.
The yellow and black team is clearly behind in the league and Martins’ team has a much better offensive with El Arabi, who is probably the top scorer again. For the match between Aris Thessaloniki and Olympiakos Piraeus, the tip is that less than three goals will be scored.
Aris Saloniki – Statistics & current form
Last year’s fifth-placed team is currently in a great second place in the domestic league. They have already qualified for the subsequent championship round. On the other hand, the gap to Piraeus is eleven points, which is why the first championship in 75 years will probably not happen.
The yellow-blacks are particularly convincing in defence: only their upcoming opponents concede fewer goals in league play. On the other hand, the attack has room for improvement. Saloniki is the weakest of the four best teams in the league. The recent 3-0 victory was therefore an exception.
The chronic lack of finishing was already evident in the first leg against Piraeus, when Matzios’ only goal came from an own goal by the champions. In addition, a respectable 1-1 draw was achieved against the champions in the league about a fortnight ago, but Aris’ goal came from a penalty kick.
Aris games are not goal festivals
Due to the combination of a stable defence and an at best average attack, Aris’ games are usually low-scoring. Only a third of the 24 games in the Super League ended with more than two goals. On average, no more than 1.9 goals were scored per game – only in the matches of Panetolikos did the number of goals drop to 1.8.
Expected line-up of Aris Thessaloniki:
Boucher – Rose – Benalouane – Ganea – Sakic – Sasha – Matilla – Gama – Silva – Garcia – Manos
Olympiakos Piraeus – Statistics & current form
The reigning champions will in all likelihood defend their title and further extend their status as record champions. In addition to having the best defence, Piraeus also boast the strongest attack in the Greek top flight. Youseff El Arabi is once again particularly deserving. The Moroccan leads the scoring charts by miles.
The striker has already scored 17 goals in 20 league appearances! The 34-year-old already took the Super League top scorer’s crown last season. But that’s not all: at his previous employer Al-Duhail in Qatar, El Arabi also snatched this award twice, which is why the domestic display case is well filled with goal-scoring awards.
The Red and Whites will be a little tired, however, as they faced Volos in the Super League last Monday. The match against the seventh-placed team in the table ended with a 2-1 away win.
Piraeus also convincing on the European stage
In addition, the mood at Thrylos is also very positive from an international point of view, as Piraeus reached the last 16 of the Europa League last week.
They conceded defeat in the second leg against a strong PSV side, but thanks to a previous 4-2 win on home turf, coach Pedro Martins’ troops continue unbroken in this competition.
Draw as an additional value tip
Given the recent busy schedule with three games in as many competitions in the last seven days, the odds on a draw in the match between Aris Thessaloniki and Olympiakos Piraeus are also interesting. The guests take the role of favourites a little less due to the many games and a draw would be enough from their point of view to enter the semi-finals of the Greek Cup.
Predicted line-up of Olympiakos Piraeus:
Jose Sa – Ba – Sokratis – Lala – Reabciuk – Bouchalakis – Camara – M’Vila – Valbuena – El Arabi – Bruma
