Olympiacos and PAOK both earned strong wins to get their league campaigns up and running, while Aris suffered a shock loss to OFI in a high-scoring affair.
The Piraeus giants secured a 2-0 result over promoted side Panserraikos at “Georgios Karaiskakis” ground in the first round of the 2023/24 Greek Super League season on Monday morning (AEST), though the “Lions” put up a strong fight.
Panserraikos essentially played the entire match with only ten men after centre back Tomas Hajek was sent off by VAR for a last man tackle on winger Pep Biel (4′).
The Serres club had a golden chance to go ahead after VAR awarded them a penalty but striker Kosta Aleksic’s effort smashed the crossbar (55′).
Biel soon after gave the hosts the lead with a finish from inside the box (63′) and striker Youssef El Arabi put the result beyond doubt by slotting his penalty into the net (86′).
PAOK defeated Asteras Tripolis 3-0 at “Toumba” Stadium, led chiefly by Andrija Zivkovic’s brace.
The Thessaloniki side opened the scoring 22 minutes in through a tidy finish from midfielder Thomas Murg into the bottom left (22′).
The Arcadians had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot but striker Juan Bautista Miritello’s effort was kept out by the right post (40′).
Zivkovic then guaranteed the victory with two quickfire goals in the second half (54′, 59′).
OFI earned a huge upset win against Aris, beating them 3-2 at home via a late winner in a disappointing result for the “yellow-blacks”.
The Cretans pulled ahead through striker Nouha Dicko, who controlled a long ball from goalkeeper Christos Mandas and composed himself to put it in the right side of the goal (17′).
Teammate Gudmundur Thorarinsson made it two when his shot from just inside the box deflected off a defender and into the bottom right (38′), though Aris winger Loren Moron restored the one-goal deficit with a close-range finish three minutes later.
The visitors completed the comeback after VAR judged centre half Fabiano to be onside when he hit the ball from winger Luis Palma’s free kick delivery into the net (68′).
OFI took the lead once more in the 90+1st minute when substitute Leroy Abanda’s pass across goal was struck in by forward Juan Neira, giving the Cretans a major triumph to open their campaign.
Giannina downed Kifisia 3-0 at home in a bizarre opening league match for the recently promoted visitors after issues with the floodlights forced the second half to be played a day after the first.
The first half, which was played on Sunday morning, saw Giannina finish on top, thanks to a composed penalty down the middle from captain Pedro Conde (31′).
Conde stepped up again early into the second half (played on Monday) with a splendid free kick that sailed into the top left (53′).
The Epirus club went a man down after midfielder Zisis Karachalios was given a second yellow (82′), but they managed to end the match on a positive note as substitute Juan Garro headed in a cross from winger Giorgos Pamlidis (90+8′).
Volos bagged a late equaliser to ensure an opening round home stalemate against Lamia, with the contest finishing 2-2 on Saturday morning.
The match came to life in an action-packed five-minute period in the second half that saw three rapid goals.
It started with Lamia striker Carlitos putting his side ahead with a penalty into the bottom left (55′), followed by a corner header from Volos defender Christos Sielis (58′) before midfielder Vykintas Slivka headed home a Carlitos cross to restore the Fthiotida team’s lead (60′).
Right back Nikolai Alho came to the rescue for the Magnesia outfit with a 90th minute screamer, hitting a sweet long-range strike into the bottom left.
The matches between AEK-Panetolikos and Panathinaikos-Atromitos were postponed due to their Champions League commitments.
Greek Super League Ladder (*yet to play)
1. PAOK: 3
2. PAS Giannina: 3
3. Olympiacos: 3
4. OFI: 3
5. Lamia: 1
6. Volos: 1
7. *AEK: 0
7. *Atromitos: 0
7. *Panetolikos: 0
7. *Panathinaikos: 0
11. Aris: 0
12. Panserraikos: 0
13. Kifisia: 0
14. Asteras Tripolis: 0
