Agrinio will once again pull out all the stops to host PAOK in a crucial match for Matchday 5 of the Stoiximan Super League (September 20, 9:00 p.m.).
Until the previous matchday, Panetolikos had been at the top of the standings with a perfect 3-0 record, but their 3-0 loss to Panathinaikos brought them crashing down. They’ll face the “black-and-whites,” who are trying to find their footing, with Alessio Lisi’s team riding a wave of confidence, perhaps for the first time this season, following two consecutive wins.
Yiannis Anastasiou’s team, despite a rocky and inconsistent start to the season—including a 4-2 elimination from the Superbet Greek Cup by Kalamata— made a strong comeback in the league with back-to-back wins against Asteras AKTOR (3-1), Kalamata (2-0), and Levadiakos (0-2).
However, at the OAKA, against a Panathinaikos team in top form, the result was completely different (3-0). Now, the Agrinio team is looking to get back on track against the “Double-Headed Eagle of the North,” putting their last disappointing performance behind them.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
On the other side, Alessio Lissi seems to be gradually adapting to the new circumstances he’s faced and appears capable of steering the difficult ship known as PAOK.
After the tough European eliminations and the equally disheartening performance in the derby against Panathinaikos (3-1), he seems to be finding his footing. In the Thessaloniki derby against Aris, they secured a crucial 2-1 victory, while in the Cup competition, on the road in Peristeri, they prevailed 1-0, continuing the positive momentum that had begun to take shape, albeit tentatively.
To keep that momentum going, however, the “Double-Headed Eagle of the North” must also come away with a win in Agrinio, in a match of particular importance for the standings.
Probable starting lineups:
Panaitolikos (G. Anastasiou): Kutserenko, Mavrias, Granath, Stajić, Apostolopoulos, Nakamba, Eraković, Basi, Estaban, Genepo, Batzis
PAOK (A. Lisi): Pavlenka, Baba, Michailidis, Diego Costa, Kenny, Taylor, Zafeiris, Ali, Pelkas, Zivkovic, Endiaye
*photo source: CNA
