Don’t let Giannikis suffer from PAS, which he did in AEK 13 months ago

AEK meets PAS Giannina in a key game in OAKA (20/02, 7:30 p.m., COSMOTE Sport 1 and Live Sportish). Not only to heal the wounds of introversion, which will swell in the event of a possible loss, but above all for specific reasons, because where it has arrived, there is a risk of it being found outside of Europe as well.

Of course, this game also has special features for Argyris Giannikis. “Aside from the fact that his position in the Union’s technical leadership is considered far from secure, he faces his former team, with whom he was ‘introduced’ to a broad footballing public and in which he was ‘introduced’ thanks to his work that won the Opportunity to get a “promotion” in AEK.

Giannikis as coach of PAS Giannina hasn’t hurt Union at home as AEK left Ioannina by three points last year (as this season).

He did the… damage to OAKA as PAS celebrated an away win after 31 years. It came at a time when PAS was on form and AEK were facing their first defeats in Manolo Jimenez’s new tenure.

Also, the team of Iraklis Metaxas is currently in good shape, which of course has a longer “duration” in their performance compared to last year’s Argyris Giannikis, which is reflected in the scoreboard. The 41-year-old coach is called upon not to suffer what he inflicted on AEK around 13 months ago.

He turned it off in the first part, “executed” it in the second.

In the first half, PAS Giannina hit the net with Krizman’s well-aimed penalty, but the main thing was that he managed to knock out the home of Yuri Lodigin (who made his PAS debut at the time).

In the second, AEK had risen, pressing hard and scoring two bars with Mandalo and Oliveira, but Leo knocked out Union in 87′. AEK mainly threatened with set attacks, PAS (by Giannikis) with his run and gun game and won the match.

PAS was more threatening than AEK according to xGoals. He had 1.93 xGoals from the penalty spot while Union only had 1 xGoal, although AEK had the final twice.

Opta Expected Goals shows you each team’s overall threat, the goals they “should” score based on their endgames. The larger the circle, the greater the chance. You can choose the type of attack and see each team’s endgames separately in normal flow, set phases, etc.

In this game we saw the Epirotes defending themselves, shielding the axis quite a bit, forcing AEK into a game from the sidelines and mainly groundless crosses, a tactic they really liked. If you look at where the PAS squad moved (by pressing the real formation button) you’ll see that the midfield quartet moved on axis at 4-4-2, leaving the back line mostly to catch the wings.

Click on “Current Formation” to see where each player’s main area of ​​action was.

At the same time, PAS attacked mainly from the right and much less from midfield in the counterattacks.as shown in the second diagram below.

Of the 11 Giannikis used against AEK, seven remain in the squad. On Sunday (20/02) Kargas will be absent (he will be serving his card penalty) and Pantelakis (who played 13 months ago) will most likely play in his place.

Of the other six, only Lodigin’s presence is taken for granted.

Metaxas kept the same principles but with a different one approach

The new PAS coach Giannina, who also has his footballing “roots” in Germany, has a lot in common with Argyris Giannikis. Both are fans of discipline, but also of tactics. The difference is that Iraklis Metaxas pays much more attention to the suspension part, something that (at least in PAS) seems to justify it.

With few exceptions, the mainland team has proven to be a tough nut to crack against any opponent this season. It greatly reduces enemy threat while also having the ability to strike on counterattacks. And although the opposing coaches know it, they have rarely stopped him.

The Iraklis Metaxas team started this season with the goal of staying in the category, but gradually that goal changed as PAS climbed to the top of the standings. Of course, Metaxas makes sure to keep the ball low to reach the air players’ heads.

The key player this season is Juan Jose Perea. He is the top scorer with six goals (along with Eramuspe, who hit the net with the same number of penalties) and the most dangerous with 6.28 xGoals. At the same time, he is the footballer with the most duels (218) and of course the most duels won (99).

Among the other footballers in the current squad is Manolis Saliakas (who has also caught the attention of big teams by staying free in the summer).

Saliakas is the Epirus football player with the most successful passes in the opponent’s 1/3 (195) and of course the most ball possession recovery in the same part of the field. The first in passes is the “captain” Giannis Kargas (956), as are of course the successful passes (286), which are crucial in blocking and the first in intercepting possession (throughout the field).

Certainly, AEK know that if they underestimate PAS, they won’t have an easy Sunday night, regardless of the outcome.

Gianniki’s plans for the game with PAS

Argyris Giannikis will not have it available. Stankovic is still suffering from a knee injury. The Austria goalkeeper has fluid pooled in his knee at the site where he underwent an arthroscopy, according to the new magnet, which was submitted without suffering anything more serious.

Except of course Sergio Araούjo who didn’t get over the fracture suffered, who punished Andre Simoes and of course Galanopoulos. Argyris Giannikis will field Union in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Panagiotis Tsintotas will be seated under the beams. Lazaros Rota will play at the right end of defense and in the middle of defence, Vranies will return to Giorgos Tzavellas’ side. On the left end of defense, the position between Hadjisafi (who has played in recent games) and Mohammadi is open.

Damian Le Talec will play alongside Simanski in midfield. Ansarifard will play at the front of the attack with Araujo absent while the trio behind him is open.

Chuber will play on the left end of the attack, while the position Amrabat will play depends on Giannikis’ choice between Mandalo and Livai Garcia. If the Union leader chooses, the Moroccan midfielder will play on the right flank. If he uses Livai, then Amrabat plays in the “10” and in the derby with Olympiakos.