It is advantage “Trifylli” going into the play-offs after they pounced on AEK’s heavy loss in a fiery affair against Olympiacos to sneak back into first place.
Enosi suffered a 1-3 defeat to the Piraeus giants at “Agia Sophia” Stadium on Monday morning in the Greek Super League’s dramatic 26th and final round of the regular season, paving the way for Panathinaikos to finish two points ahead following their victory over Atromitos.
The “red-whites” took the lead fortuitously in the 50th minute when winger Pep Biel’s effort took a major deflection off centre half Harold Moukoudi, deviating into the right side of the goal.
The reigning champions doubled their advantage almost immediately with a quick counter that afforded striker Cedric Bakambu a one-on-one chance which he smacked past goalkeeper Giorgos Athanasiadis (53′).
Winger Sergi Canos made it three through another swift counter, this time following a corner, with the Spaniard placing the ball into the bottom left (67′).
Things complicated for Olympiacos when Biel was sent off for a second yellow (70′) and AEK would soon get a goal back through substitute Steven Zuber’s fantastic low driven long shot into the bottom left corner (81′).
This would prove the final decisive moment of the contest as the visitors set themselves up well for the next phase of the competition, sitting only three points behind AEK on the ladder and five behind their archenemies.
Fotis Ioannidis’ brace guided Panathinaikos to a 0-2 away triumph over Atromitos after fan incidents caused a major delay to proceedings.
The match was overcome with passion and fans began to clash in the surrounding area of the Stadium at around the 10th minute, causing the players to return to the changing rooms.
Around 20 minutes later, they came back out and play resumed with neither team able to find a goal before half time.
The Greens came out firing in the second period and broke through early via a thunderous strike from Ioannidis, with the young forward smashing the ball from the edge of the box into the top left corner (49′).
Ioannidis soon won a penalty for his side which he subsequently smashed into the top left (63′), helping his team to all three points as they reclaimed top spot.
PAOK emerged victorious over Volos in a 0-1 away result to give themselves a strong finish to the regular season.
The double-headed eagle of the North sealed the win in the 30th minute with a superb team goal which concluded with an excellent pass across the goal from winger Khaled Narey that was tapped in by striker Brandon Thomas.
Aris made the most of this by beating Giannina 3-1 at “Kleanthis Vikelidis” ground, thus jumping over Volos into fifth.
The Epirutans shocked the hosts by going ahead early via midfielder Angelos Liasos (7′) but the Thessaloniki outfit would soon draw level through a shot from midfielder Vladimir Darida into the bottom left (26′).
Aris pulled in front minutes before the break after Rafael Camacho delivered a perfect cross that was headed in by teammate Mateo Garcia (43′), and marksman Aboubakar Kamara later put the match beyond doubt with a composed finish into the bottom right (58′).
An early Vasilios Mantzis header was enough for Ionikos to earn a massive 1-0 home upset against Asteras Tripolis.
The Nikaia side found what proved to be the winning goal seven minutes in after a free kick delivery from deep was met by Mantzis, who only needed to steer it goalward after goalkeeper Nikolaos Papadopoulos came out in an effort to clear it.
The Arcadians suffered another setback in the 43rd when midfielder Oluwatobiloba Alagbe was given his second booking and they failed to recover from it.
Levadiakos valiantly fought their way to a much-needed 2-0 home success over OFI to go equal with relegation rivals Lamia.
The “blue-greens” went 1-0 up after a cross from Triantafyllos Tsapras was headed into his own net by OFI defender Apostolos Diamantis (21′), with the hosts quickly making it two through midfielder Giorgos Nikas following another mistake at the back (27′).
Lamia recorded a well-earned 1-1 away draw with Panetolikos to remain just ahead of Levadiakos in 13th due to a superior head-to-head record.
The Agrinio side struck first after a major mistake from goalkeeper Athanasios Garavelis, who fumbled a cross to gift striker Nikos Karelis a tap-in header (51′).
Substitute Tomas Sebastian de Vincenti rescued a draw for the Fthiotida club with a phenomenal free kick into the top left corner (71′), helping his team to their fifth point from their last three outings.
Greek Super League Ladder
1-Panathinaikos: 61
2-AEK: 59
3-Olympiacos: 56
4-PAOK: 54
5-Aris: 40
6-Volos: 39
7-Panetolikos: 29
8-Atromitos: 29
9-OFI: 26
10-Asteras Tripolis: 25
11-Giannina: 23
12-Ionikos: 18
13-Lamia: 17
14-Levadiakos: 17