The “fortress” that AEK has built in Nea Filadelfeia. The comparison in matches against the Big-4 between the first two seasons in the new stadium, and Panathinaikos, which left the job half done. SPORT24 presents all the actions of the Union in their home ground in the Stoiximan Super League.
The first derby of the year at the OPAP Arena is approaching, with the gates of the stadium in Nea Filadelfeia opening to welcome Panathinaikos on Sunday evening (29/09, 21:30, COSMOTE SPORT 1HD, LIVE from SPORT24).
The two teams will take to the pitch starting from different points. AEK comes from yet another draw, this time against Athens Kallithea in the 5th round of the Stoiximan Super League, knowing that a win, combined with points dropped by PAOK, which faces Aris at Toumba (29/09, 20:30, Novasports Prime, LIVE from SPORT24), will bring them to the top of the Greek league with or without a cohabitant.
On the other hand, the “trifylli” has already lost five points in clashes against theoretically weaker opponents, the same number of points that separate them from the league leader, PAOK.
The fortress of OPAP Arena
In 2017, the former owner of the Union, Dimitris Melissanidis, stated that “the walls of ‘Agia Sophia’ will never fall” and while it may be too early to say this for the OPAP Arena, at least at a competitive level, the Double-Headed has transformed their stadium into an almost impregnable fortress.
Since October 30, 2022, when AEK played its first derby at its home ground against PAOK, until today, Matias Almeida’s team has played a total of 12 home matches in the league against the Big-4.
The statistical depiction shows that the Union has only suffered defeat once, that being to Olympiakos in the final match of the double-winning season, with the remaining results being six wins and five draws.
In its favor is also the goal difference, as it has scored 19 goals and seen its net breached eight times.
Moreover, these goals have been conceded in just four matches, as they count eight clean sheets.
Regarding the comparison of results that AEK has brought between the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, last year the Union improved its points tally (12 points compared to 11 in the first year) and scoring (11 in the second compared to eight in the first), while it retrieved the ball from its net more times (five goals compared to three).
The work that remained unfinished
In the purely sporting aspect of the Athens derby, in the two seasons that the “yellow-blacks” have played at OPAP Arena, four matches have been held between AEK and Panathinaikos.
The Union has the lion’s share, remaining unbeaten. One win and one draw are recorded by “Pelado” against Ivan Jovanovic, and the same exact results against Fatih Terim. Of course, against the Turk, they came one step away from drinking the “bitter cup” of defeat.
On January 14, 2024, the Double-Headed hosted the rejuvenated Panathinaikos, which Terim was trying to present at that time.
The “greens” played better than AEK at its own game, pressing high in the first third of the opponent’s half, ball recoveries, and launching quick attacks, while they were also extremely dangerous in counter-attacks.
This was the main reason that Panathinaikos came just a few minutes away from the double, as they equalized at 2-2 with a penalty from Livai Garcia in the 90+6′.
Many questions arise ahead of Sunday’s derby. Will Diego Alonso present a similar plan to what he followed at Toumba?
How will Matias Almeida choose to line up his team, against the third different coach he faces on the “green” bench?
Everything will be revealed within the four lines, in a match that, although it comes early in the season, holds immense point significance.
AEK’s results in derbies at OPAP Arena
- 2022/23 30/10/2022 AEK – PAOK 2-0 (Stoiximan Super League)
- 2022/23 08/01/2023 AEK – Panathinaikos 1-0 (Stoiximan Super League)
- 2022/23 12/03/2023 AEK – Olympiakos 1-3 (Stoiximan Super League)
- 2022/23 19/03/2023 AEK – Panathinaikos 0-0 (Playoffs Stoiximan Super League)
- 2022/23 26/4/2023 AEK – PAOK 4-0 (Playoffs Stoiximan Super League)
- 2022/23 03/05/2023 AEK – Olympiakos 0-0 (Playoffs Stoiximan Super League)
- 2023/24 19/09/2023 AEK – Olympiakos 1-1 (Stoiximan Super League)
- 2023/24 30/10/2023 AEK – PAOK 2-0 (Stoiximan Super League)
- 2023/24 14/01/2024 AEK – Panathinaikos 2-2 (Stoiximan Super League)
- 2023/24 31/03/2024 AEK – Olympiakos 1-0 (Playoffs Stoiximan Super League)
- 2023/24 07/04/2024 AEK – PAOK 2-2 (Playoffs Stoiximan Super League)
- 2023/24 24/04/2024 AEK – Panathinaikos 3-0 (Playoffs Stoiximan Super League)