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Panathinaikos FC's Nikos Lyberopoulos is to face Predrag Djordjevic of Olympiakos Piraeus FC (©empics)

Greek title up for grabs
Friday, 09 May 2003

A Greek season which has been anything but a classic will reach a thrilling climax on Sunday evening when the country's two most successful clubs meet in a match that could decide the league title.

Seven-year itch
If Panathinaikos FC beat Olympiakos Piraeus FC they will be Alpha Ethniki champions - doubling their three-point lead over second-placed Olympiakos with only one game to play. A draw at the home of their arch-rivals would also suit the Greens, leaving them needing just a point from their final fixture against Akratitos FC on 25 May to clinch a first championship in seven years.

Markarian magic
Panathinaikos won at Akratitos in the 15th round of matches to go top of the table, and have stayed there ever since. The real watershed in their season, however, came when they appointed Sergio Markarian as coach in October following the resignation of Fernando Santos.

Hostile atmosphere
Panathinaikos had just lost their opening three games but have subsequently remained undefeated. Now they face the acid test of their ambition - a trip to the Gipedo Rizoupolis stadium where a hostile 11,000 crowd will be supervised by 5,000 police and, for the first time this term, closed circuit television cameras.

Second time lucky
Of greater concern to Markarian, though, will be the absence of injured midfield player Carlos Chaino, although Jan Michaelsen should recover from a knock to play. Former Paraguay coach Markarian actually left Panathinaikos last May after an initial 129-day reign only to return to build a side strong on defence but spearheaded by dangerous strikers Nikos Lyberopoulos and Emmanuel Olisadebe.

Record chasers
Everything is at stake for Olympiakos, too. The Reds are chasing a record seventh straight title - and a 32nd championship in all, against Panathinaikos's 21 league crowns. Unsurprisingly, they started out as favourites but, amid a succession of coaches, they have failed to hit the heights of previous campaigns.

Protasov in charge
Former Soviet Union international Oleg Protasov is the club's fourth trainer this term, following on from Takis Lemonis, Giannis Kollias and Srecko Katanec. With goalkeeper Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos, defender Christos Patsatzoglou and midfielder Zι Elias all out of action, he will rely on wingers Predrag Djordjevic and Stylianos Giannakopoulos for inspiration.

History lesson
The weight of history, at least, is on Olympiakos's side. The Piraeus outfit have won this fixture 18 out of 43 times since the introduction of professional football in 1959 - and lost it on only ten occasions. Another victory would take them level on points with the Athens club, making a championship play-off a real possibility. But if Olympiakos win by two goals or more on Sunday, they will be in pole position by virtue of having the better head-to-head record following a 3-2 defeat at Panathinaikos in January.

Football the winner
So, for once this season, all eyes will be on the action unfolding out on the pitch rather than in the stands, tax offices or court rooms. After a season spent counting the cost of Greek football's ills, financial and otherwise, supporters can finally conjure with the kind of figures they are comfortable with.

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Greece round-up: Olympiakos champions again
Sunday, 25 May 2003

Olympiakos Piraeus FC claimed the Hellenic National League championship for a record seventh consecutive season as they cruised to a 5-1 win at Xanthi FC.

Advantage restored
Having beaten Panathinaikos FC 3-0 last week to move ahead on head-to-head record, Olympiakos held their nerve to win their 32nd title. Lambros Choutos headed them ahead on four minutes, and although Vanco Sikov equalised 14 minutes later, Choutos quickly restored the visitors' advantage. Stelios Giannakopoulos's goal just before half-time took Olympiakos further ahead, with victory confirmed after the break by Alexios Alexandris and Nery Castillo, ensuring Olympiakos broke their own previous record for consecutive titles, six in the 1950s.

Consolation win
Panathinaikos gained the consolation of a UEFA Champions League berth with a 3-1 win against Akratitos FC. In a match switched to Rhodes in punishment for crowd trouble after that previous defeat to the champions, Miltos Sapanis gave Panathinaikos an 18th-minute lead. Michalis Konstantinou headed the second ten minutes later and although Apostolos Koutsokostas pulled one back soon afterwards, 38-year-old Krzystof Warzycha confirmed the win with an injury-time goal.

Victory for AEK
AEK Athens FC had gone into the weekend still able to clinch the title if they beat Panionios FC and the top two both lost. Although AEK did claim a 4-2 win, third place and Champions League third qualifying round entry two points behind the champions was instead their reward in a game played in Patras following the demolition of the Nikos Goumas stadium prior to the construction of a new arena in time of the 2004 Olympic Games. Arian Belaj scored twice in the first 13 minutes to give Panionios a shock lead, but of Vassilios Lakis, Vassilios Tsartas and Dimitrios Nalitzis ensured AEK led at the break, and Christos Maladenis headed the fourth 16 minutes from time.

UEFA Cup issues decided
However, Panionios, in fifth, gain UEFA Cup entry, along with fourth-placed Greek Cup winners FC PAOK Thessaloniki and Aris Thessaloniki FC, who finished sixth after scoring during injury time through substitute defender Giannis Mallous to beat – and overtake - Iraklis FC 2-1. PAOK ended their season with a 3-2 defeat at PAS Giannina FC, who ensured they avoided automatic relegation, should their 90-point deduction be revoked.

Relegation wait
If it is, Giannina will play-off with the third-placed second division side Apollon Kalamarias, while Ionikos will go down despite beating already-demoted Panahaiki FC 3-0. Should the punishment remain, Ionikos will enter the play-off. Halkidona and Paniliakos have been promoted. Kallithea GS confirmed their survival with a 2-0 win at home to OFI Crete FC, and mid-table pair Proodeftiki FC and Egaleo FC drew 1-1 in the only match without championship, European or relegation issues at stake.

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