PAOK has taken a clear lead in the battle for a spot in next season’s Champions League after defeating Asteras Tripolis for the second time in four days in the Super League playoffs on Sunday.
The Thessaloniki giant won 1-0 at Toumba and is now three points ahead of Atromitos and PAS Giannina in the playoff mini-table, to shake off a bad start in the round-robin tournament with two defeats.
Sekou Oliseh scored through a spectacular volley in the 57th minute, although it was Asteras that had the biggest share of goal-scoring chances in the game, especially after the dismissal of PAOK’s Ergys Kace in the 87th minute.
In Sunday’s other game Atromitos defeated PAS 2-0 at Peristeri courtesy of goals by Thanasis Karagounis and Stefano Napoleoni in the 17th and 46th minute respectively.
PAOK leads the mini-table with 10 points, Atromitos and PAS have seven, while Asteras remained on five points.
Meanwhile Apollon Smyrnis, Ergotelis and Kalloni Lesvou secured a spot in next season’s Super League that will have 18 teams. The last place in next season’s top flight will be decided by the promotion play-offs involving Panetolikos, Iraklis, Olympiakos Volou and Niki Volou.
