Greece. Cup. 1st Round
The Greek Cup, or Kypello Elladas, is the nation's oldest knockout competition, pitting clubs from all divisions against each other for prestigious silverware. The 1st Round kicks off the action, featuring lower-league sides and Super League 1 teams in high-stakes openers.
History and foundation
Launched in 1931 by the Hellenic Football Federation, the inaugural winner was Ethnikos Piraeus. Dominated by the 'Big Four'—Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, and PAOK—the cup has seen iconic clashes. The 1971 final, Olympiacos' 2-1 win over Panathinaikos before 70,000 at OAKA, remains legendary. Reforms in the 1980s expanded participation, while underdogs like Atromitos have shone in the 2000s.
Tournament format
Single-elimination format with one-legged ties. The 1st Round involves 36-40 teams: 2-3 from each division plus regional qualifiers. Blind draw, hosts by coefficient. Played in autumn, with replays possible early on. Winners advance to Round of 16, joined by top Super League sides. Final is a neutral-venue showdown, often at Athens Olympic Stadium.
Interesting facts
Average goals per 1st Round match: 2.7, spiking to 3.5 in lower-tier clashes. All-time top scorers: Vasilis Hatzipanagis (45 for AEK), Tomas Delibasic (40+ for Olympiacos). Stars include Jimmy Durmaz's dazzling runs for AEK in the 2010s and Predrag Djordjevic's 38-goal haul for Panathinaikos. Modern standouts: PAOK's Stefanos Kapino in goal and Levadiakos' Ahmad Kanté up front. Upsets abound, like Iraklis' 4-0 thrashing of PAOK in 2012.