Violence starts early

Panathinaikos, Olympiakos braced for title decider

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- "Eternal rivals" Panathinaikos Athens and Olympiakos Piraeus meet Sunday in a clash likely to decide Greece's first division soccer championship.

Fearing violence, more than 3,000 police will take up positions around Rizoupolis stadium when league leader Panathinaikos fights to break the Piraeus club's six-season title streak.

Adding to the volatile atmosphere, Olympiakos' chairman told his team to "crush" Panathinaikos, while the visitors tried to rattle their opponents with a late and successful demand to test players for doping.

Panathinaikos, with 67 points, is three clear of Olympiakos with two rounds remaining in the 16-team league.

Late Thursday, more than 50 youths wearing scarves over their faces attacked the premises of a Panathinaikos supporters club near central Athens, throwing rocks and smoke bombs.

Police reported no injuries or arrests.

Strict security has also been ordered for Sunday to avoid a repeat of crowd violence that erupted during a similar game between the two clubs last year.

The referee and match officials were badly beaten after Olympiakos leveled 1-1 with a disputed injury-time penalty.

Police will place a 2-kilometer (1.25-mile) cordon around the stadium to turn away potentially violent fans and those without tickets.

All 10,000 spectators will be searched before entering the stadium, authorities said.

Players insisted they were focusing on the match.

"It's a game not a war ... let's enjoy it," Krzysztof Warzycha, Panathinaikos' 39-year-old Polish striker, told supporters.

Panathinaikos fans are desperate to clinch the title and end a series of six consecutive championships won by their traditional rival. The Athens club last won the trophy in 1996.

"We're hungry for a title and this is the time to win it," Polish striker Emmanuel Olisadebe said.

Panathinaikos will rely on the Pole's speed Sunday.

Uruguayan coach Sergio Markarian rested some of Panathinaikos' regular starters in last Sunday's game against OFI Crete in order to have them ready for the derby.

"The time has come to show your worth," Markarian told his players.

Panathinaikos' three-point advantage means even a draw at Rizoupolis would almost certainly hand them the title. The Athens club plays its last round at home against struggling Akratitos.

Olympiakos must win by a two-goal difference -- and cancel Panathinaikos' 3-2 victory earlier this season -- to clinch its seventh title.

A goal average tie could send the two teams to a play-off game.

Olympiakos' coach Oleg Protasov told his players they could still take the trophy home to Piraeus.

"This is the game of the season ... we only need a victory and it's up to you to achieve it," the Ukrainian coach told his players.

Protasov, a former Soviet national team player, took over Olympiakos in February, becoming the fourth coach to sit at the club's bench this season.

 

Related information

Stories

World: Porto clinches 19th Portuguese title

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video