Levadiakos and Aris Thessalonikis shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Levadias Stadium on Sunday afternoon, a result that keeps both firmly in the European qualification battle in the Super League 1’s Conference League Group. The visitors led at half-time through Benjamín Garré, but a second-half response from Benjamin Verbič ensured the league leaders in the qualifying round table preserved their advantage at the top of the mini-league.
Levadiakos, coming into the Conference League Group phase as the top side from the regular season qualifying round, began on the front foot with 60% possession overall, but Aris thought they had struck an early blow. On 8 minutes, Garré found the net, only for VAR to intervene. After review, the referee Anastasios Papapetrou ruled the effort out for a foul in the build-up, the decision formally recorded as “Goal Disallowed – Foul”.
Aris, sitting fourth in the qualifying round standings and chasing European football, were compact and dangerous in transition. Their aggression was underlined on 23 minutes when Tino Kadewere went into the book, the forward shown a yellow card for a robust challenge.
The visitors’ pressure finally told just after the half-hour. In the 31st minute, B. Garre scored, assisted by T. Kadewere, as Aris capitalised on space down the flank and punished Levadiakos’ back line. It was a deserved breakthrough for a side that would finish with 13 total shots and 1.4 expected goals.
Levadiakos attempted to respond before the interval, but their frustration grew. On 36 minutes, I. Kosti collected a yellow card as the hosts struggled to contain Aris’ midfield. Just before the break, Hamza Mendyl joined the list of cautioned players in the 45th minute, picking up Aris’ second yellow card of the afternoon after a late tackle.
Aris went into half-time 1-0 ahead, having been the more clinical side despite Levadiakos’ territorial dominance. Giorgos Athanasiadis had only one save to make all game, underlining how well-protected the Aris goalkeeper was for long spells.
The second half, however, belonged more to Levadiakos. With 1.66 expected goals on the day, Nikolaos Papadopoulos’ team started to turn possession into threat. Their persistence paid off in the 58th minute. B. Verbic scored, assisted by T. Tsapras, finishing a well-worked move down the right that finally breached the Aris defence and levelled the match at 1-1.
Aris’ discipline wavered again just after the hour. Fabiano was booked on 63 minutes, the defender’s yellow card reflecting the growing pressure exerted by the home side as they pushed for a winner.
A flurry of substitutions followed on 66 minutes as both coaches sought to tilt the balance. For Levadiakos, H. Layous came on for G. Balzi, injecting fresh energy into the attacking midfield line, while G. Tsivelekidis came on for H. Magnusson to reshape the back four. Aris responded in kind: A. Donis came on for G. Gianniotas, offering more direct running on the flank, and F. Jensen came on for U. Racic in central midfield to add creativity and fresh legs.
Levadiakos continued to chase the game, and on 77 minutes Papadopoulos made a double attacking change. L. Jallow came on for I. Kosti, and P. Symelidis came on for B. Verbic, the goalscorer, as the hosts searched for more dynamism in the final third.
Aris, wary of losing their point, adjusted their front line. In the 78th minute, C. Kouame came on for B. Garre, replacing the scorer of their opening goal. Later, on 83 minutes, L. Moron came on for T. Kadewere and O. Boussaid came on for M. Hongla, further refreshing the visitors’ attack and midfield structure.
Levadiakos made their final change on 87 minutes, turning to additional firepower. O. Ozegovic came on for A. Ozbolt, giving the home side a new focal point up front for the closing stages.
Despite the tactical tweaks, neither side could find a decisive moment in the final minutes. Levadiakos ended with 9 total shots, including 2 on target and 3 blocked shots, while Aris recorded 3 shots on goal and 4 blocked efforts. Yury Lodygin’s 2 saves matched Aris’ 3 efforts on target closely, while Athanasiadis’ single save reflected Levadiakos’ relative lack of clear-cut chances despite their territorial control.
From a standings perspective in the qualifying round table, the draw nudges Levadiakos onto 43 points from 28 games, with their goals for tally rising to 52 and goals against to 39, maintaining a healthy goal difference and their leadership in the Conference League Group phase. Aris move to 32 points from 28 matches, with goals for up to 22 and goals against to 29, keeping them in the thick of the European qualification battle but still needing wins to close the gap.
In a tight, hard-fought contest that featured five yellow cards and a disallowed goal, both sides ultimately had to settle for a point that reflects the balance of play: Levadiakos’ control versus Aris’ cutting edge.
