Aris defender Fabiano faces a major battle to be included in the squad for the upcoming match against AEK in Nea Filadelfeia, reporter Fotis Pliakos has said. Speaking on The Football Show by Stoiximan on protothema.gr, Pliakos reported that manager Michalis Grigoriou would strongly prefer not to be without the Brazilian center-back at this time, but his participation remains far from guaranteed.
The Greek side is attempting to present as competitive a performance as possible against AEK despite several team problems. The upcoming clash comes at a delicate time for Aris as they work to build momentum in the domestic championship.
Lineup options and tactical choices
Regarding the starting lineup, Manu Garcia is expected to retain his spot in the team. Pliakos noted that the player is set to receive playing time similar to what he was given in the recent fixture against OFI. On the right wing, Garre is expected to start for the Thessaloniki club.
The position on the left wing remains undecided for manager Grigoriou. Palacios has been trialled in the role during preparations, but Gianniotas is the alternative option and currently holds the highest probability of starting in the opening lineup.
Demanding schedule ahead
The away fixture in Nea Filadelfeia is described as particularly demanding for Aris. The club is currently working to integrate new signings into its match operations while striving to collect valuable league points at the same time.
Pliakos highlighted that the meeting at Nea Filadelfeia is a major challenge for Aris, particularly because a match against PAOK follows immediately after, significantly increasing the overall difficulty of their upcoming schedule.
Aris FC, based in Thessaloniki, competes in the top division of Greek football. Facing AEK Athens away from home followed by cross-town rivals PAOK represents one of the toughest back-to-back tests in the Greek Super League calendar.
