SL 24/25: Levadiakos 0-0 Athens Kallithea

In a combative performance, AKFC conceded few chances and secured a useful result in a scoreless draw playing away to Levadiakos on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 Super League season.

Roberts Uldriķis looked to have put AKFC in front in the 13th minute, skillfully skipping past a defender before striking an angled shot past the ‘keeper, but replays showed he was just offside in receiving the initial pass. Playing just behind Uldriķis, attacking midfield duo Thierry Moutinho and Alessandro Mercati were lively, as were wing-backs Georgios Manthatis and Pyry Soiri, but clear chances would be hard to come by in a cagey and physical match.

After the break, Javier Matilla replaced the yellow-carded Samba Diba, and Matilla went agonizingly close to opening the scoring in the 55th minute, only to see his free-kick whisk just wide of the post.

Meanwhile, the hosts would make a push for a goal themselves, but ‘keeper Bernabé Barragán would make an important save in the 61st minute, and the defensive trio of Triantafyllos Pasalidis, Nicolas Isimat, and Josua Mejías would remain solid through the match.

Demethryus came off the bench to provide an attacking spark late in the match, and he would set up Elia Giani in front of goal with a glorious chance to slot in the winner in the 96th minute, but Giani was taken down in the box, the referee waved away appeals for a penalty, and the match ended in frustration.

Athens Kallithea (3-4-2-1): Bernabé, Mejías, Isimat, Pasalidis, Manthatis, Moțoc (65’ Giani), Diba (46’ Matilla), Soiri (83’ Hanousek), Mercati, Moutinho (86’ Demethryus), Uldriķis (65’ Loukinas)