As Tolis mentioned, according to the last news there will not be Olympiakos fans in the game. The Champions have also some absents, normally they will qualify, but it will be difficult to win at Larisa.
I agree with the under in the AEK game, and now the odds dropped a little.
My view for the games is
Larisa - Olympiakos
Olympiakos are first in the table and almost the Champions. The Cup is also a target of the team. They have good offensive line and are good travellers (10-0-3). They come from a home win 5-1 vs Egaleo, an unmotivated opponent anyway, and before that they lost 2-0 to Iraklis away. In the previous round they eliminated Xanthi (1-1 and 1-0). The last Olympiakos win was imopressive, still in the end there were tensioned nerves between some players and the talented but sometimes out of control striker Kastillo in the epicenter. Maybe this can affect the climate in the team. Larisa fans are expected to create a hot atmosphere and Olympiakos fans will not be in the stadium after days of negotiations between the teams and the police. For this game Olympiakos have some important absents. They will miss influential regular Toure (M), and Georgatos (D). Also they will miss influential regulars Kostadinou (F), and Rivaldo that missed the previous game as well.
Larisa are in the middle of the table in the League. Their main target is the Cup and this is the game of the year for them. Larisa come from a loss away vs Levadiakos for the League, but their mind was in the Cup game. A team with good offensive line and strong at home in front of the fans (9-3-1). In the previous round they eliminated Akratitos (1-0 and 1-0). In this game they will miss regulars Gavrilopoulos (F), and Spasic (M) that missed the previous game as well. On the contrary influential regular Sherban (M), and regulars Hloros (F), Vella Junior (M) return in the squad.
This season Olympiakos - Larisa 4-0 for the League
Larisa will give their best to qualify but they have difficult task against the Champions and table leaders. Larisa are strong at home and with the help of the fans they will try to qualify. They have good offensive line, and can score against Olympiakos defense. However their form is not conviencing lately. Olympiakos have good offensive line and can score as well. Still they have important absents in the creative part. A possible over given both teams good offensive lines. Olympiakos are the big favourites to qualify for the final, however this game is difficult and they don't have to win it. The value in the Asian is on the home team. A hard call in fixed odds anyway.
My bet will be Larisa +0.5 in the Asian, 1.74 at
Pinnacle, stakes 5/10.
Agrotikos Asteras - AEK
Agrotikos is a Third Division team, challenging promotion. They are good at home, where they have eliminated PAOK and also Ergotelis a second Division team that will promote next year to the first. A team with good offensive line. They come from a home win 1-0 for the League vs Karditsa a team low in the table, in a game they missed 2 penalties. This Cup game is very important for them as its the first time in their history to reach the semifinals. They don't have chances to qualify, but still they want a positive result in front of the fans. The squad is not announced yet, but I expect them to field their best possible line up.
AEK are 3rd in the table now, and fight with Panathinaikos for a Champions League spot. They come from a loss away vs PAOK in a game they have serious complaints from the ref. This result can cost them their target, and brought many conflicts in the team as some fans protested to the players and the board. The climate in the team is not very good now, and on Sunday they face OFI at home, a must win for them. So AEK will not risk any injuries, and coach Santos will rest some regulars as the first game result almost seal qualification. AEK will miss influential regulars Liberopoulos (F), Cirillo (D), Katsouranis (M), also Dellas (D), Tziortzopoulos (D), Vienglinski (F).
First leg result AEK - Agrotikos Asteras 3-0
AEK are almost qualified, and have their mind in the League game on Sunday. The last relult vs PAOK brought some conflicts in the team and also they have many absents. There is two divisions class difference between the teams. Still Agrotikos will try for a positive result and are good at home. A possible under given AEK good defense. AEK will progress but they don't have to win the game. The value in the Asian is on Agrotikos.
My bet will be the under 2.5 goals, stakes 4/10 (coverage at 1-2 exact score).
GL2A
Greek Cup 12 April
TOTW/F/M Award(s): 1
).GIF "Thumb(1)")
