'Celtic v Rangers the biggest games of the season' – Dessers ahead of 'Mother of All Battles'

Cyriel Dessers is set for his first major test in Panathinaikos colours on Sunday evening when the Greens lock horns with Olympiakos in the Greek Super League.

The meetings between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos are famously billed as the Derby of the Eternal Enemies, a fixture often referred to by supporters as the 'Mother of All Battles'.

Dessers transferred to Panathinaikos on deadline day in Scotland, ending his two-year association with Premiership giants Rangers.

Shortly after completing his move, he travelled to Africa for World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa, coming off the bench in Uyo and starting in Bloemfontein.

The Nigeria international has already experienced some of Europe's fiercest rivalries, including Feyenoord v Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Celtic v Rangers in Scotland.

Dessers featured in two meetings with Ajax during his spell at Feyenoord, before going on to score twice in eleven Old Firm clashes while on the books of Rangers.

He admitted that pulling on the green jersey in Greece's biggest game is a special honour.

Speaking to Cosmote TV, via Gazzetta, Dessers said: "I think it's an honour to play in this derby after what you mentioned before.

"In Holland and Scotland they are obviously the biggest games of the season for the fans and for the teams. 

"I'm looking forward to it, they are the most beautiful games you can play in your entire career maybe."

Dessers emphasised that Sunday's showdown is crucial both for bragging rights and maintaining Panathinaikos' push in the Super League.

"I can’t wait until the game. As we said before, we have quality as a team and I think if we get a good result on Sunday it can change a lot in the atmosphere, as well as in the confidence and belief of the team.

"That we are here, we are ready and we are going for the next step."

Dessers marked his full debut for Panathinaikos with the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Athens Kallithea in the Kypello Ellados on Wednesday.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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