Peristeri is once again pulling out all the stops to host Atromitos’ first home game of the season.
For the second matchday of the Stoiximan Super League, Peristeri will host a reeling PAOK (August 30 – 8:15 p.m.), following the team’s shocking elimination from European competition.
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The match is highly anticipated, as both teams are looking to put their disappointing opening-round results behind them and make a fresh start.
Atromitos faced a very difficult challenge in their season opener, with Dusan Kerkez’s team visiting the “G. Karaiskakis” Stadium to face Olympiacos. Although the Peristeri-based team didn’t accomplish much offensively in Piraeus, they gave the “Red-and-Whites” a tough time, but ultimately succumbed in the closing minutes to a goal by Karmo in the 82nd minute, sealing a 1-0 victory.
Atromitos is now looking for its first points in the league and aims to secure them against PAOK, which is still finding its footing.
On the field, for the the “blue-and-whites,” Haris Tsigaras and Matthaios Moundes will be absent; both dealt with injuries during the week and were unable to recover in time, as well as Lefteris Lyratzis, due to the agreement reached between the two teams this past summer regarding the 26-year-old right back’s transfer. Specifically, according to reports, as part of the deal—in which he signed a two-year contract with the Peristeri-based club as a free agent—it had been agreed that the player would not play in the first match between the two teams, regardless of the round or venue.
In detail, Atromitos’ roster:
Athanasiou, Choutesiotis, Dieng, Magnusson, Mitoglou, Stavropoulos, Tsakmakis, Hoxha, Uronen, Karamanis, Kotsis, Moutousami, Nunes, Abartzidis, Batos, Pneumonidis, Tzovaras, Tsouber, Tsantilas, Tsiloulis.
On the other side, PAOK wants to show it’s still in the game after the tough elimination it suffered in Norway at the hands of Brann, which knocked it out of European competition.
Alessio Lisi faces the difficult task of getting his players back on track in the Greek league—a goal also pursued by PAOK FC’s strongman, Ivan Savvidis, had also attempted to do—by speaking personally to the players and coaching staff in an effort to boost their morale ahead of the difficult road ahead.
The Italian coach will not have Tom Louche at his disposal. The French midfielder underwent an MRI, which revealed a strain in his right biceps femoris; his condition is being reevaluated daily. In addition, Kamara, Meite, and Sarris, who followed a treatment program and are not expected to play in the match against Atromitos, while Despodov continued his individual training program.
In detail, PAOK’s roster:
Pavlenka, Tsiftsis, Monastirlis, Kenny, Elustondo, Hatzidiakos, Michailidis, Bataoulas, Giannoulis, Baba, Gomez, Taylor, Thymianis, Santamaria, Zafeiris, Pelkas, Tyson, Ali, Soretire, Zivkovic, Hatzidis, Endiaye, Mythou.
Probable Starting Lineups:
Atromitos (N. Kerkez): Houtesiotis, Hoja, Stavropoulos, Mitoglou, Uronen, Karamanis, Moutousami, Pneumonidis, Tsouber, Tzovaras, Tsantilas.
PAOK (A. Lisi): Pavlenka, Giannoulis, Elustondo, Michailidis, Kenny, Taylor, Zafeiris, Zivkovic, Pelkas, Hatzidis, Entiaye.
Referee: Athanasios Tzilos (Larissa)
Assistant Referees: Konstantinos Staikos (Larissa), Spilios Oikonomou (Achaea)
Fourth Official: Fotios Daoulas (Western Attica)
VAR: Michalis Matsoukas (Euboea)
AVAR: Eleni Antoniou (Achaea)
*photo source: KYPE
