The 2023 Greek Cup final was the 79th final of the Greek Cup. It took place on 24 May 2023 at Panthessaliko Stadium.[1] The contesting teams were AEK Athens and PAOK. It was AEK Athens' twenty-seventh Greek Cup final in their 99 years of existence and PAOK's twenty third Greek Cup final and third consecutive, of their 97-year history. After the continuous refusals of the mayor of Volos, Achilleas Beos to grant Panthessaliko Stadium to host the match,[2] as the proclamation dictated,[3] a series of consultations occurred about the venue of the match throughout the season. The HFF, examined many proposals which included stadiums from the United States, England, Germany,[4] Poland, Romania,[5] Serbia, Cuprus, Albania[6] and stadiums all over Greece.[7][8][9] Eventually, Beos accepted and it was decided at 12 May that the match would take place at Panthessaliko Stadium.[10][11]
Venue
Panthessaliko Stadium.
This was the fourth Greek Cup final held at Panthessaliko Stadium after the 2007, 2017 and 2020 finals.
Panthessaliko Stadium was built in 2004. The stadium is used as a venue for Niki Volos and Volos. Its current capacity is 22,189.[12]
Background
AEK Athens had reached the Greek Cup final twenty-six times, winning fifteen of them. The last time that they had won the Cup was in 2016 (2–1 against Olympiacos). The last time that had played in a final was in 2020, where they had lost to Olympiacos by 1–0.
PAOK qualified for the Greek Cup final twenty-two times, winning eight of them. The last time they had won the Cup was in 2021 (2–1 against Olympiacos). The last time that had played in a final was in 2022, where they had lost to Panathinaikos by 1–0.
The two teams had met each other in a Cup final six times in the 1939, 1978, 1983, 2017, 2018 and 2019 finals.[13]
