PAOK has brought an essential end to their woeful recent form, defeating Panathinaikos for a crucial lift in team confidence just days away from the Cup final.

The Thessaloniki club downed the “Trifylli” 2-0 at Toumba Stadium on Wednesday morning (AEST) in the tenth and last round of the play-offs, securing second place and holding the advantage over their rivals whom they will battle for the Cup in four days’ time.

PAOK took the lead through midfielder Stefan Schwab after he managed to reach a headed ball across goal by teammate Sverrir Ingason, tapping the ball in with a plethora of Panathinaikos defenders all caught ball-watching (14′).

Striker Chuba Akpom made it two for the hosts after he latched onto a parried save by goalkeeper Sokratis Dioudis, hitting it in from close range (21′) to help the hosts end their eleven-match winless run in all competitions.

The Greens’ night was made worse with striker Federico Macheda being sent off for a second yellow offence in the dying minutes of the contest (90+1′).

Aris capitalised on Panathinaikos’ loss by beating Giannina 0-3 away to finish just a point ahead of them in third position.

Centre back Fabiano put the visitors in front with a bouncing strike from a corner (8′) before marksman Aboubakar Kamara’s confident one-on-one effort doubled their advantage (22′).

Defender Salem M’Bakata guaranteed the three points, guiding his shot from just outside the box into the bottom left (81′).

Olympiacos came from behind in the derby against AEK, earning a 2-3 away win with the help of hat-trick hero Youssef El Arabi.

Enosi winger Steven Zuber scored the match’s first goal, keeping his long-range effort low as it landed into the bottom left (14′).

El Arabi equalised six minutes later after heading in the rebound from Cican Stankovic’s attempted punch out, though AEK winger Levi Garcia responded in kind, guiding his own header into the goal to restore his side’s lead (48′).

El Arabi again made it level after reaching the ball again from a Stankovic save, this time smacking it in from the goal-line (69′) before he scored the winner from a similar position following a corner (87′).

Greek Super League Ladder

Championship Group

1-Olympiacos: 83

2-PAOK: 64

3-Aris: 62

4-Panathinaikos: 61

5-AEK: 56

6-PAS Giannina: 46

Greek Cup final fixture (AEST)

Panathinaikos-PAOK: 03.00, Sun 22 May