Panathinaikos are three points clear at the top of the Super League after an unconvincing 2-0 win over strugglers Panserraikos at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
Although two Frenchmen scored the Greens’ goals, they were both set up by young Greek hope Lazaros Christodoulopoulos who is proving to be a key player for lacklustre PAO this season.
The first goal came in the 17th minute when Jean-Alain Boumsong glanced home a tempting free kick from Christodoulopoulos.
But the floodgates did not open and the home side had to wait until the 70th minute for the second, which killed off the game.
Christodoulopoulos produced some nifty footwork in the box to cross for Djibril Cisse to tap into an empty net.
The game was briefly held up in the 6th minute when tear gas fired by police following minor disturbances outside the stadium wafted over the pitch.
The overall performance, however, confirmed that there is still much work for new coach Jesualdo Ferreira to do.
The Greens have 30 points from 13 games and will be hoping Olympiakos slip up at third-placed Kavala on Sunday.
Also on Saturday, Kerkyra grabbed a vital away win at Panionios thanks to an 18th minute Flavio Flavinho goal.
The defeat leaves Panionios second from bottom on 13 points, with the possibility of finding themselves last on Sunday if Larissa beat PAOK. Kerkyra have 16 points.
Iraklis produced another draw on Saturday, this time at home against Ergotelis. The visitors took the lead through Diego Romano but Marinos Ouzounidis’s men equalised through Pablo Lima.
Ergotelis have emerged unbeaten from games at the Kaftantzogleio Stadium in their last six encounters there.
Iraklis, in sixth on 16 points, have drawn seven of their 13 games – the most in the Super League.