Last season was by far the team’s best for many years. The Yellow and Blacks finished in third place in the championship, secured a place in a European competition, reached the semi-finals of the Greek Cup and generally exceeded expectations.

Success whetted the appetite of the club’s leadership. Many new players came in the summer, with impressive CVs and expensive contracts. Akis Mantzios got the green light to shape the team and optimism was widespread in the Aris camp that the best was yet to come, with dreams for an even better run in the championship, qualification in Europe and distinction in the Greek Cup.

However, seven months later and instead of progress, Aris has taken several steps back. It all started going wrong with the early elinination from Europe in the summer qualifiers. Astana proved to be an insurmountable obstacle for teh club. A goal in the 120th minute of extra time stopped Aris‘ dreams of returning to the group stage of a European competition were dashed at the first hurdle.

The situation in the league was already difficult before it started. The forgery scandal that struck Aris resulted in a six-point penalty with the team from Charilaou starting the season with -6 points.

After 22 games, Aris has collected 29 points and is in eighth place in the standings, five points behind OFI, who are in sixth, having played two games more. Aris, in the last few games of the regular season, must now try to find a way to reverse the situation and grabd a place in the Play Offs.

Finally in the Greek Cup, Aris failed miserably. While lady luck smiled down on them in the draw and saw them paired against Lamia, the Yellow and Blacks experienced a painful exit in extra time against Lamia.

The consequence of all of this was the departure of Akis Mantzios. The Greek coach was strongly challenged during the season, but the two defeats by Volos and PAS Giannina proved to be his swansong.

Everything indicates that Herman Burgos will be the successor of Mantzios, with the Yellow and Blacks going to the game with PAOK Apostolos Terzis as an interim coach.

In the January transfer window, Aris acquired 22-year-old winger Palma, defensive midfielder Dukoure and right-back Mbakata, who have not yet found a role in the team.

Terzis is wirthout Gama and Sundgren for the game with PAOK, with the team’s squad including the following players:

Cuesta, Siampanis, Mateo Garcia, Lucas Sasha, Kamara, Iturbe, Brabec, Fabiano, Sakic, Mancini, Bertoglio, Ndiaye, Matilla, Lopez, Benalouane, Ganea, Luis Palma, Lumnor, Delizisis, Manos.