Greek/Cypriot clubs in Europe 2010-2011

[Icarus]

First real meaningful matches have begun.

CL 3rd QR

Ajax-PAOK 1-1 after Ivic equalised off a beautifully played pass from Salpiggidis. Chalkias left the game with an injury.

Omonoia-Salzburg 1-1 in Cyprus. Former OSFP player Lua Lua with a penalty to salvage a draw for the Cypriot champions in injury time.

[Icarus]

And a BIG congratulations to OSFP for making the front page of UEFA.com, only for all the wrong reasons. Bowing out of QUALIFYING to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Apollon Limassol also bowed out on away goals go Sibir.

However, Aris, APOEL and Anorthosis all advanced.

[Orthodox Bear]

I was disappointed that PAOK didn't advance in the CL against Ajax, however, they fought bravely and nearly progressed to the next qualification round.

More recently PAOK put in a solid performance against Fenerbahce in Thessaloniki. When PAOK was down to 10 players they still nearly scored a second goal. 1-0 is a good result, even though I expect Fenerbahce to be a more difficult opponent in the 2nd leg. Salpingidis may be my favorite PAOK player; he's fuzzy like I am.

[Icarus]

Yes PAOK with a very good 1-0 win at home vs Fenerbahce. Very important to keep a clean sheet, especially after playing the last 25 minutes with 10 men. Not easy to win in Istanbul but they look quite good enough to score a goal and make things really difficult for Fener.

Aris also won 1-0 at home some days ago to Austria Wien with a goal in the last minute of extra time.

AEK beat Dundee United in Scotland 1-0. I don't think the Scottish Cup winners had a shot on goal. AEK really should have attacked more as Dundee looked somewhat overmatched.

Hopefully all teams win their ties. I think AEK are the one of the three who looks 90% to be through as I don't see the Scots scoring in Athens.

[GiannisAEK]

AEK is guaranteed a win. I dont think Dundee even had a shot on goal against us, and we werent even out of first gear. I dont see things changing in Greece.

Aris on the otherhand probably wont make it. Their defence looks typically weak; Wien had chance after chance but didint score. I see them scoring in Austria.

PAOK will have a tough time against fenerbache in turkey. Then again fener did lose to an inferior team in young boys and couldent beat them in turkey.

[Icarus]

Aris got better as the game went on.

I really am interested in seeing how PAOK perform in a hostile atmosphere away from home. No matter what form Fener is in, you'd have to think the result of loosing to a 10 man PAOK, a Greek team no less will have to motivate them.

In other news, the place for the AEK-Dundee United match is still up in the air! OAKA's pitch is in horrendous conditions right now and AEK informed Dundee of a venue change. The problem is, no one knows where it will be. At first PAO's old Leoforos stadium was put up, but that fell apart. Then the tie was supposed to be at Panionios' Nea Smyrni stadium, but when this news broke last night, Panionios fans broke into their own stadium and took shovels and other equipment and destroyed their own surface!

[Icarus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icarus

Then the tie was supposed to be at Panionios' Nea Smyrni stadium, but when this news broke last night, Panionios fans broke into their own stadium and took shovels and other equipment and destroyed their own surface!

[GiannisAEK]

Everyone is through! I didint watch any of the games, but from what i have heard AEK played like crap. I'm not too impressed with our defence (although Manolas does have a lot of potential). No right back, weak/slow/inexperienced starting CB's, and no adequate backup CB. I cant see us finishing higher than 3rd in our group with this backline.

[Icarus]

Gianni, our problems were up field rather than defending. After about the half hour mark if looked like a 2nd tier side making plays up field. Horrible game in front of only Dundee fans in Karaiskaki. But, we're through. It should have been comfortably though.

AEK-Dundee 1-1 highlights.

Aris played well away in Austria. but with their win in Thessaloniki a week ago, all they needed.

And then there's PAOK......

Bye bye Fener. Turkish hosts were of course perfect gentlemen as one can read on this very website but nevertheless.

[Icarus]

Poli plaka oi opadoi tis Fenerbahce. Ean theli kapios na parakoulouthi to ti lene....milame edo yia "classiki" Tourkiki topothetisi.

[Fen]

Great goal by Govou. Why does Pana play Vyntra as LB, I thought they have Spyropoulos and Ioannidis in that spot.

[Vieirinha]

PAOK vs Club brugge soon

[Icarus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fen

Great goal by Govou. Why does Pana play Vyntra as LB, I thought they have Spyropoulos and Ioannidis in that spot.

I didn't watch the game but Spyropoulos is injured AFAIK.

[Vieirinha]

Aris 1-0 Atletico Madrid

Great effort by them

Club Brugge 1-1 PAOK

also AEK 3-1 Hajduk split.

i hope PAOK can finish off Dinamo next game so the GSL has complete dominance over the Croatian League.

[Icarus]

Okay so it's been a while.

PAO in the CL was a complete disaster. Utter shambles. Barca is Barca but the inability to win at least once against Rubin and/or Kobenhaven is just bad. Last in their group and for the 1st time in 5 years out of Europe before Christmas.

In the Europa Cup Greek clubs did very well. PAOK and Aris both advanced from their groups, taking Spanish scalp's in the process with PAOK defeating Villarreal and Aris TWICE beating the current holders Atletico Madrid. AEK fared less better beating an inferior Hajduk side but only managing a draw and a loss against Anderlecht. Zenit was too much for AEK (yet again). Unfortunate to go out on goal difference (AEK and Anderlecht both had 7pts).

Some of the better games for Greek clubs;

PAOK-Villarreal 1-0


PAOK-Dynamo Zagreb 1-0


Aris-Atletico Madrid 1-0


Atletico Madrid-Aris 2-3


AEK-Hajduk 3-1


Aris have drawn Manchester City as their next opponents and the Europa Cup switches to the knockout format, while PAOK have drawn CSKA Moscow.

I do not remember the last time Athens had no teams in Europe after Christmas but Thessaloniki had 2.