Playoffs kick off tomorrow
The Super League soccer playoffs kick off tomorrow as four teams start fighting it out for the second Greek spot in next season’s Champions League. PAOK, Panathinaikos, AEK and Larissa will play a round-robin mini-tournament that follows the Champions League group stage pattern and will be completed by May 31. The first round sees PAOK host Panathinaikos in Thessaloniki as AEK entertains Larissa. PAOK enter the playoffs with three points, Panathinaikos with two, AEK one and Larissa none. The team to finish first will enter the third round of the Champions League qualifying in late July along with champions Olympiakos. Both teams will have to negotiate two rounds this summer before reaching the group stage of Europe’s top club competition. The other three teams in the playoffs will contest the UEFA Europa League. Aris meanwhile has reportedly reached a deal with three-times Polish player of the year, striker Euzebiusz Smolarek of Santander.
