2024-03-19 23:28:52
PAS Ioannina is preparing for the crucial games of the playoffs, as it finished in the last place of the scoreboard and wants to make a big effort to overturn the existing data, with the aim of staying in the Super League.
And last year they found themselves with their backs against the wall, but had started the play-offs with a cushion of 6 points above the relegation zone, while this year they are inside that hot zone and with a harvest of five points less than last year. In the previous four years, since the playoffs were established, PAS was more comfortable compared to last year and this year when it found itself in a difficult position.
Let’s look at the history of these matches and what the local team did in them. Until the 2017–18 season there were 16 teams in the Super League with direct relegation to the second national team of the bottom two teams, without play-off matches. There were only playoff games to determine the champion and the teams that received European tickets.
In the 2018-19 season, the then SYRIZA PS Government, through the Deputy Minister of Sports Giorgos Vassiliadis, committed one of the biggest crimes against Greek football, unplanned and recklessly overturning all the balances of football. He decided to reduce the teams in the Super League from 16 to 14 and at the same time create two groups in the Second National League which he called Super League 2, another professional category the Football League and the amateur Third National League. A completely unplanned restructuring plan that did not bring any positive results. On the contrary, it created multiple problems. The Football League was dissolved in two years because the teams could not respond, the Super League 2 (B’ National) fell in quality with the two groups, some teams had given up the effort since Christmas and dozens of cases of corruption and suspicious matches occupied the prosecution offices of the country.
The weak restructuring plan of SYRIZA PS was paid by PAS Ioannina who, despite being on fire in the 2018-19 season, finished 14ththe position 6 points from the relegation line, eventually relegated in order to reduce teams. From the following season 2019–20, the play-off matches were also established, alongside the play-off matches that were in the past. Until the 2021-22 season, the bottom team was directly relegated and the penultimate played a double play-off with 2the team of the 2nd national team that resulted from a barrage of matches of the leaders of the two groups. From last year, season 2022-23, it was determined that the bottom two teams will be directly relegated to the Second National League and the champion teams of the two groups will be promoted to the Super League.
In the 2019-20 season, PAS did not take part in the playoffs, as it was in the second national team and rose to the top division, in the midst of a pandemic, making an amazing run with coach Argyris Giannikis. In the Super League, during the regular season of the championship, Panionios finished in last place with 11 points and Panaitolikos in penultimate place with 17 points. After the play-offs, Panionios finished last with 23 points, falling directly to the second national team and Xanthi in the penultimate place with 24 points, after 7 points were deducted due to the multi-ownership issue with PAOK. Finally, Xanthi was also relegated in a double playoff match with Apollon Smyrnis who were 2o in the Second National League and secured promotion.
In the following season 2020-21, PAS finished in 8th placethe position with 31 points and the playoff matches were procedural in nature. Championship points were enough for him. The weight had fallen more in the Cup, where it had reached the semi-finals and was eliminated by Olympiakos. In the 7 games of the playoffs, indifferent in terms of points, he got only 4 points. In Ioannina, they beat Atromitos 1-0 and lost 2-1 to Lamia, 1-0 to Panaitolikos, 2-0 to Apollon Smyrnis. In other words, the teams that were burning for points were victorious from Ioannina. Away from home, PAS lost 2-1 in Heraklion to OFI who were also burning for points, drew 1-1 in Volos and lost 2-0 in Larissa to AEL. In that season (2020-21), OFI finished in the last two places of the regular season of the league with 19 points and Larissa with 16. After the playoffs, Larissa finished in last place with 27 points and was relegated directly, and in the penultimate Panaitolikos place with 28 points which was saved in double playoff matches with Xanthi (2the in the Second National League).
In the 2021-22 season, PAS finished 6ththe position and coached by Iraklis Metaxas, he competed in the playoffs and not in the playoffs. As far as the battle for survival is concerned, in the regular season of the championship, Apollon Smyrnis finished last with 13 points and in the penultimate place Lamia with 18 points. After the playoffs, Lamia finished in the last two places with 26 points and Apollo Smyrnis with 22 points. The “Light Brigade” was relegated and Lamia was saved in the barrage with Veria (2the Second National).
A MIRACLE HAPPENED LAST YEAR!
Last year, i.e. the 2022-23 season, PAS finished 11th in the regular seasonthe position with 23 points, having below Ionikos with 18 points and Lamia, Levadeiakos with 17. In the playoffs, PAS managed to get 11 points in the 7 games it played and finish in 9the position with 34 points, well above the threshold for staying which was 28 points. PAS, despite having a bad start to the matches, with a 2-0 defeat in Lamia and a 1-0 defeat in Ioannina by OFI, regrouped afterwards and did not lose a game until the end. The recovery started from 3the matchday, where they drew 1-1 in Peristeri from Atromitos, then beat Panaitolikos 3-2 in Ioannina, made the big bang by beating Ionikos 1-0 in Nikaia (the golden goal by Moreira) and mathematically sealed the stay at 6the matchday beating Asteras Tripoli with a score of 1-0 at the packed “Zosimades” stadium with a goal in the 84th minute by Kevin Rossero. The game of 7her matchday (last) in Livadeia ended in a draw with a score of 3-3, it was pointless, as Levadeiakos had already been relegated and PAS had already secured the stay. Last year, Ionian and Levadeiakos were relegated.
And we come to this season and the critical days we are going through, where “Ajax of Epirus” is preparing for the battle for survival. Things are more difficult for the local team compared to last year, as they start the matches with five points less and at the same time it is very likely that the stay limit will increase. But let’s hope that last year’s miracle will be repeated and the local team will avoid relegation, which if it happens, will take them many years back, towards the barren line.
From today’s printed edition of the “Continental Struggle” (14/3/2024)