Considered as the most in-form team in Greece after the World Cup break, Olympiacos have scored 13 goals in their last four games, grabbing three wins and a draw. The playmaking trident of James Rodriguez, Kostas Fortounis and Pep Biel has stood out, thrashing opposition defences and offering entertaining spectacle to Olympiacos fans, who suffered with their team’s performances in the first stretch of the season.

Olympiacos currently sit third in the table, 10 points behind undefeated leaders Panathinaikos and just three points off the Champions League spots. Michel’s side are confident that they could still compete for the title and they are willing to demonstrate that they can do so before the split takes place and playoffs kick off in March.

Their recent performances have boosted both the team’s and the fans’ morale. As many as 11,000 fans are expected to make the 330km trip to Volos to support Olympiacos from the stands and push their team to a win. This could potentially be the first time the Piraeus-based side manage three league victories in a row this season and they are expected to do so against a struggling Volos side, who were thrashed by both Panathinaikos and AEK Athens on home soil earlier this season.

The Greek Super League leaders beat Volos 5-1, while AEK grabbed a 4-0 victory in late December. Only one team has conceded fewer goals at home than Volos (15) this season and only two Greek sides have scored more times than Olympiacos (16) away from home.

After dropping two points away at PAS Giannina despite taking a two-goal lead in December, the reigning champions are willing to avoid making the same mistakes on Sunday. They may not grab a victory as comfortable as the ones Panathinaikos and AEK managed at Volos, but Olympiacos should be expected to secure all three points in a match where more than 1.5 goals will be scored.

A 10-man Atromitos conceded two goals from dead balls to lose 2-0 away at Panetolikos in the last Greek Super League round. Chris Coleman’s side want to get back to winning ways after recording a draw at home against PAOK and losing at Panetolikos in their last two matches. They also need to prove that they have what it takes to clinch a top-six position and compete for a European spot through the play-offs.

Atromitos currently sit eighth in the table, six points behind sixth spot. The last play-off spot is occupied by Aris, but Atromitos are expected to compete for a top-six spot with fifth-placed Volos, who will struggle to get a single point against reigning champions Olympiacos on the same day.

In the event that Volos lose to Olympiacos, a win against bottom-placed Ionikos will allow Atromitos to close the gap on their rivals to four points.

Taking into account that three of their next four games on home soil are against top-3 sides Panathinaikos, AEK Athens and Olympiacos, Atromitos are aware that this is a first-class opportunity to make the most of their home support and grab a much-needed victory.

To do so, they have to defeat a struggling Ionikos side, who have managed just three points on the road this season. Ionikos have lost seven of their eight games away from home and they haven’t scored a single goal in their last two games.

One of these seven defeats came on home soil against Atromitos, who cruised past Ionikos with a 4-1 comeback victory back in September.

Ionikos will play to avoid defeat away at Peristeri, but this is a must-win fixture for Atromitos – their last opportunity to show that they can make the top-six.