Aris vs Panathinaikos Prediction: Panathinaikos always have trouble in Thessaloniki

In Greek football, all duels between the bigger teams from Thessaloniki and Athens are considered derby matches. Thus, Aris, in addition to the local Thessaloniki derby against PAOK, also plays derby matches against the clubs from the capital - AEK, Olympiakos, and Panathinaikos. With 7 rounds to go, Aris are fifth in the play-off group with 48 points and has no chance of moving up or falling to the last playoff spot, but that's why Panathinaikos are third with 62 points, fighting to catch up with the leader PAOK, which there are with 66 points. Among them, AEK are in 2nd place with 65 points. 

Form: LWWDD

Aris are playing all these derbies in the Championship group of the playoff with little or no pressure at all. They are in 5th place, and most likely they will qualify for the UEFA Conference League, and now they are playing for their fans and pride. In the last round, they were defeated against Olympiakos 3:0 in Athens, but at home, they are undefeated in the last 5 matches. 

Form: WLWDW

Panathinaikos hosted AEK in the last round and took them down from the first place in the table. After five games in which the greens failed to beat the black and yellows, that bad series came to an end. Although AEK were the first to score, Croatian Vida sent the ball into the net in the 5th minute, already by halftime, Fatih Terim's team managed to turn it around with two goals within three minutes: Bakasetas in the 32nd minute and Joanidis in the 34th minute brought the lead to Panathinaikos. Sparks flew until the end of the match, AEK were the better team but did not manage to get a point. Panathinaikos are in 3rd place with 62 points, 4 points less than PAOK.

Aris are playing very well against the top 4 teams from Greece this season, but Panathinaikos are in the fight for the title and I expect them to give everything in this hot stadium and get all 3 points. After the great win in the last round against AEK, the confidence is high and the team from Athens is in great momentum. I expect a tough, difficult match with several goals in both nets.