This season’s Greek Super League is ripe with suspense, as another round ended with plenty of surprises. At Toumba, PAOK nearly fell victim to one of them as AE Larissas (AEL) threatened to break to unbeaten run.

The team from Central Greece opened the game on the back foot, yet were lucky to find a goal on what was literally their first successful offensive effort of the game, thanks to a header by Marko Nunic. However the home side maintained their composure and managed to find the equaliser even before the end of the half time. During one of the many visits to their visitors area, PAOK forward Prijovic was brought down by Karanikas, who received his marching orders for the aggressive attempt. The victim took the responsibility of the kick and did not make a mistake, sending the two teams to the locker rooms on equal terms. The second half had more of the same, with AEL being reduced to ten and PAOK looking for any possible pathway that could lead to Kristinsson’s goal. On the 70th minute, their patience was rewarded, after a shot by Shakhov from outside the area was tapped in by Chuba Akpom, who awarded the three points to his team, as AEL were powerless to claim anything else from the game. After this result, PAOK broke away even further on the table to seven points from the second place, since Olympiacos failed to claim the win at Xanthi. The home team, naturally posing a problem to the ‘red-and-whites’, proved too difficult a hurdle for them to overcome yet again.

The Pireaus side was extremely unlucky to not score a goal in the opening minutes of the game, with Podence even finding the crossbar as he lifted the ball over defenceless goalkeeper Zivkovic. However, in one of the few attempts made by the home side early in the second half, a cross made by Jendrisek found the head of Jagos Vukovic who put the ball passed his own keeper. That goal only helped to spur the away side even more and force them to put the pressure on Xanthi, however they were unable to find the goal that they needed. Until the 76th minute that is, when the low cross of Fortounis from the right found the feet of Vukovic who redeemed himself in the eyes of his team mates and the fans and levelled the score for his team. Two minutes later, Podence was sent off after he naively kicked his opponent, forcing Olympiacos to stick to the draw and withdraw to third position.

Atromitos resumed second after their incredible 4-2 win against Aris at Peristeri, with four goals scored in injury time. Sakic opened the score for the home side on the 16th minute, sending his team in the changing rooms with the advantage. Koulouris doubled the lead on the 59th, but Konstantinidis pulled one back for Aris on the 89th (and after Younes had failed to convert a penalty kick). Koulouris struck again two minutes into stoppages, while Diamantopoulos brought Aris closer one minute later. N’sikulu wrote the final score on the final minute of stoppages.

Panathinaikos also fell victim to a surprise defeat at Crete, as OFI were keepeing them on the back foot throughout the game and easily claimed the 3-1 win. Deligiannidis opened the score as early as the 5th minute for the Cretans and even though the ‘greens’ managed to equalise after a nice cross from the left and a sharp header by Ergys Kace on the 36th, it wasn’t meant to last, as Platellas’ shot from outside the area four minutes later restored the lead to OFI. In the second half, Panathinaikos couldn’t seem to find the space they needed and OFI had easier access to their defences, with Korovesis putting the icing on the cake on the 60th minute.

AEK seem to be returning to form after last week’s win and offered their fans another fine performance against Lamia, who they beat 2-0. The champions had many chances and pilled on the pressure toward their visitors, while goals scored by Ponce and Anastasiadis (OG) were just the icing on the cake.

PAOK are top of the table with 35 while Atromitos are second with 28, followed by Olympiacos who have 27.

SUPER LEAGUE DAY 13 RESULTS

  • Asteras Tripolis – PAS Giannena 1-0 (90′ Fernandez)
  • AEK – Lamia 2-0 (13′ Ponce, 47′ OG Anastasiadis)
  • Xanthi – Olympiacos 1-1 (54′ OG Vukovic / 76′ Vukovic, 78′ sent off Podence)
  • OFI- Panathinaikos 3-1 (5′ Deligiannidis, 40′ Platellas, 60′ Korovesis / 36′ Kace)
  • Atromitos – Aris 4-2 (16′ Sakic, 59′, 90’+2′ Koulouris, 90’+4′ N’sikulu / 89′ Konstantinidis, 90’+3′ Diamantopoulos)
  • PAOK – AEL 2-1 (45’+3′ Prijovic, 70′ Akpom / 36′ Nunic 45’+2′ sent off Karanikas)
  • Panetolikos – Apollon Smyrnis 2-1 (3′ Barbosa, 25′ Morar / 48′ Jaguaribe)
  • Panionios – Levadiakos 1-1 (90’+5′ Alberg / 41′ Ioannidis)

DAY 14 FIXTURES

Saturday 15 December 

  • PAS Giannena – Panionios
  • Aris – Panetolikos
  • Asteras Tripolis – OFI

Sunday 16 December

  • Apollon Smyrnis – Xanthi
  • AEL – AEK
  • Panathinaikos – Atromitos
  • Olympiacos – Lamia

Monday 17 December

  • Levadiakos – PAOK