The record champions from Piraeus are on course for their next title this season. One week after the end of the season in the Greek Super League, Olympiakos Piraeus have the final of the Greek Cup on their agenda this weekend, where the “Thrylos” from Piraeus will meet their arch-rivals from Saloniki.
According to the betting providers with a legal license, the newly crowned league champions from Piraeus are also the favourites in the cup final. A win for Olympiakos Piraeus against PAOK Thessaloniki offers odds of 1.95, while a bet on the visitors is rewarded with betting odds of more than 3.00 in case of success.
In the final of the “Kypello Elladas”, as the Greek cup competition is also called, even some spectators can be expected in the Olympic stadium of Athens. However, with the small number of fans in the stadium, a witch’s cauldron atmosphere can be ruled out. So far, the “Thrylos” from Piraeus have already won the cup 28 times. It is quite possible that the 29th cup title will follow this weekend.
Prediction & Live Odds for Olympiakos Piraeus vs. PAOK Thessaloniki
Olympiakos Piraeus had already dominated the Super League at will and secured the championship seven matchdays before the end of the season. In the cup, we now expect the “Thrylos” to put on the next show of power, not only winning their 29th cup title, but also the 19th double of the season in the club’s history.
The record champions from Piraeus had already won against PAOK Thessaloniki less than a fortnight ago. On the penultimate matchday of the championship round, a narrow but well-deserved home victory for a short-handed Olympiakos dealt PAOK a severe setback. It was only thanks to the support of the top club from Saloniki that they were able to defend their second place in the table.
As in the most recent encounter in the Greek Super League, we again expect Olympiakos Piraeus to win the cup final. Although three of the record holders’ centre-backs are out through injury, we think the “Thrylos” are far stronger than the stumbling double-headed eagles from the north.
In the case of Olympiakos Piraeus vs. PAOK Thessaloniki, our betting odds are therefore on a win for the red and white team.
Olympiakos Piraeus – Statistics & Current Form
Olympiakos remains the flagship of Greek football. The red and whites are not only causing a stir at national level, but also on the international stage. This season, the “Thrylos” from Piraeus even made it to the last 16 of the Europa League, where they were defeated by the Gunners from London.
As expected, Olympiakos won the next championship in the Greek top flight, a small consolation after their elimination from the Europa League. Even before the start of the championship round, the Red and Whites’ title win was by no means in doubt, and seven matchdays before the end of the season, the 46th league title was also mathematically sealed.
This weekend, Olympiakos will be aiming for a season double – the 19th double in the club’s history, mind you. As the odds comparison of the AFT, the “Thrylos” is the favourite in the cup final. The record champions from Piraeus have already won two of four season duels against their rivals from Saloniki, with Olympiakos losing only one match.
Will the defensive hold against PAOK?
In the Super League, Olympiakos Piraeus have a record of 28-6-2 in 36 games, with one of the two defeats coming against PAOK Thessaloniki and another against Panathinaikos Athens. As the 2020/21 Super League statistics show, Olympiakos had the best attacking and the best defensive unit in the league.
In 36 games, the Red and Whites scored 82 goals, while in return Martins’ side conceded only 19. Although the rotation machine was fired up in the season’s final spurt, the “Thrylos” still showed strong performances. Among other things, there was also a home victory against PAOK (1:0) on the penultimate matchday, where even the white waistcoat was preserved.
Because the record champions from Piraeus are in their best line-up for the cup final, we see Olympiakos Piraeus as the clear favourites against PAOK Thessaloniki and think there is no alternative to a prediction on the Red and Whites – even if head coach Pedro Martins will have to do without three centre-backs.
Predicted line-up of Olympiakos Piraeus:
Sá – Reabciuk, Chovelas, Semedo, Kamara, Androutsos – Masouras, M’Vila, Boucalakis, Bruma – El Arabi
PAOK Saloniki – Statistics & current form
For PAOK Saloniki, the cup final at the “Kypello Elladas” 2021 is of great importance, after all it is the only chance to limit the damage. In the Super League, the white and black team from Thessaloniki had a mixed season, but surprisingly, they still finished the season as runners-up.
However, because the runners-up in the table no longer have the right to qualify for the top flight, the runners-up spot is of little significance for PAOK. All the more important, therefore, is the Greek Cup final, where the double-headed Eagles from the north have the chance to end the season with a title after all.
Against their arch-rivals from Piraeus, however, PAOK are only the underdogs. Risk-averse bettors who want to venture a prediction on the visitors in Olympiakos Piraeus against PAOK Thessaloniki should take a look at the freebet offers of the bookmakers. Some bookmakers even offer a free bet without a deposit; all that is required is a successful registration.
Will Olympiakos be PAOK’s final opponent again?
In the Super League, PAOK as a potential championship rival of Olympiakos Piraeus lagged behind the great expectations. The poor points tally in the 2020/21 season was mainly due to weakness away from home. Seven of the eight defeats in the league were on foreign soil.
In total, PAOK had a record of 7-4-7 in the 18 away games in the Super League, making them only the fourth-best away team in the Greek top flight. One of the few arguments in favour of the double-headed Eagles from the north is PAOK’s recent record at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, where AEK have also played their home games this season.
In three away games at the “Spiros Louis”, as the stadium is also abbreviated, there have been two wins and a draw for PAOK. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether PAOK can actually overcome their away weakness against Olympiakos. Head coach Pablo Garcia, in contrast to the Olympiakos coach, can draw from the full range and will start with the best possible line-up.
Expected line-up of PAOK Thessaloniki:
Paschalakis – Varela, Michailidis, Rodrigo – Baba, Tsingaras, Augusto, Lyratzis – Tzolis, Krmencik, Warda