Ilioupoli – Ionikos

Greece - Super League 2, Group B, Round 2

Ilioupoli had mixed emotions following their debut match, settling for a goalless draw against Olympiakos B—a result they found generally satisfactory. Though they had multiple opportunities to clinch the full three points, they also ran the risk of defeat. Their start to the match was shaky, with Peristeridis making a significant save in the 17th minute and again being spared by the crossbar nine minutes later. Ilioupoli then created threats with efforts from Pantelidis (38'), Detler (41'), and Ramos (51'). They played mostly a defensive role until the end. Notable moments include Fourlanos clearing a shot off the line at the 62nd minute, Peristeridis making another vital save in the 85th minute, and Tsaftaridis clearing a ball that almost ended up in the net. Ultimately, they secured a point and aim to enhance their performance going forward.

Competition news: Nikos Pantelis rarely discloses his line-up, having done so sparingly last season. He intends to follow a similar approach this year. Radovac, Venardos, and Latinovic are sidelined due to injuries.

Ionikos' journey began with two 3-0 defeats—the first against Kallithea in the Cup, followed by a loss to Chania in the league opener. They appeared uncompetitive in the first half, with the Cretans' dominance evident by their 9 attempts on goal compared to Ionikos' none. Ionikos even had a close call in the 16th minute when a shot hit the post. They eventually conceded early in the second half. Despite a promising double chance by Economides and Ginis in the 57th minute, the team's fortunes didn't change. They conceded two more goals in quick succession (73', 83'), much to the team's disappointment.

Match news: For his initial two official matches, the manager refrained from announcing the line-up, a contrast to his approach in the previous Super League season. Tassoulis' absence due to injury is notable.

Looking ahead, Ilioupoli seems to be banking on a solid defense this year, aiming to exploit counterattacks. Their resilience was tested against Olympiakos B. Ionikos, on the other hand, has been underwhelming so far, but they are expected to adopt a more cautious strategy.