Panathinaikos vs Olympiakos Prediction: The derby of the eternal enemies

For the third time in less than a month, the eternal enemies Panathinaikos and Olympiakos will play each other. In January they played in the Cup and both matches ended in a draw, while Panathinaikos were more successful after a penalty shootout. Now they will play in the league match in the 21st round of the Greece Super League. Both teams are in pursuit of the top of the table, but the pressure is bigger on Olympiakos. Unfortunately, this match will be played without fans.

Form: WLLWD

Panathinaikos are more satisfied with their form and how they play in the derbies recently. In the last 11 matches against Olympiakos, they were defeated only once. However, they can’t be very pleased with their position in the table, they are in 3rd position with 44 points, 14 wins, 2 draws, and 4 defeats. They have 3 points less than PAOK and 3 points more than Olympiakos. In the last round, they were defeated in Thessaloniki against PAOK 2:1, although they played well and probably deserved at least a point. In this match they are entering with high ambitions to win against their biggest rival, there aren’t any bigger problems and issues in the squad, and everyone is ready for this derby.

Form: WWDWD

Olympiakos entered into a bad period after the start of the second part of the season, but they pulled themselves out of it quickly. However, they were knocked out of the National Cup by Panathinaikos, and in the league, they are in 4th place. They have 3 wins in a row in the league and are trying to catch up with leading teams above them. In the last match against Panathinaikos in the cup, they were a better opponent and created more chances but, in the end, the match ended in a draw and after the penalties, they were knocked out of the cup. This is a league match, the title race is on fire in Greece and Olympiakos will try not to lose in this match and to stay close to the top of the table.

When these teams are playing each other it’s like a holiday in Athens and all of Greece. Unfortunately, this match will be played without spectators, and with it part of the magic of the derby is lost. However, there is no doubt that the players will do their best on the field. As it’s always in these derbies I expect a big fight, tension, and fuss among the players. In the cup matches played recently, we saw that neither of these teams wants to lose in the derby, and I expect such approach in this match as well. I think that this match will end in a draw, but I expect goals from both teams.