Panathinaikos travel to Crete today in a must win game for the Greens if they wish to stay on top of the Greek Super League.
Their fiercest rivals, Olympiakos, spent 48 hours on top of the table last week after beating AEK 2-0 at home on Friday night, but Panathinaikos recovered its two-point lead after downing Xanthi 3-0 on Sunday night.
Panathinaikos bounced back to the top with a solid second-half display against Xanthi in Athens through goals by Toche, Giorgos Karagounis and Antonis Petropoulos, all in the final 15 minutes of the game.
Olympiakos had momentarily climbed to the top of the Super League table on Friday night after strolling to a 2-0 win over crosstown rival AEK.
The hosts led from the fifth minute thanks to an Olof Mellberg header and doubled their lead 19 minutes later courtesy of a Kevin Mirallas goal.
AEK did little to justify its place at the third spot of the table, registering just five shots, although Olympiakos did not fare much better with nine. Tomorrow Olympiakos will again be at home, hosting Panionios in a game the Red will need to win.
The match of the round takes place in Thessaloniki with a Macedonian derby between PAOK and Aris. PAOK, currently third, will be tired after Thursday’s Europea League game at Udinese, while Aris know that a win will lift them into a play-offs spot for the first time this season.
In other games this weekend AEK host OFI, Xanthi play Asteras Tripolis, Kerkyra entertain Doxa, Giannena take on Atromitos and Panaitolikos are at home to Levadiakos.