The “Trifylli” have kept their title hopes intact after earning an important derby triumph over Aris, a win that should put them in good spirits in preparation for the play-offs.
Panathinaikos beat the Thessaloniki side at “Leoforos” Stadium on Thursday morning (AEDT) in the 25th round of the Greek Super League, maintaining the three-point gap between themselves and first-placed AEK.
The Greens opened the scoring in just the fifth minute through a strike from playmaker Anastasios Bakasetas, the goal being awarded after an initial offside call in the build-up play.
The “Trifylli” then doubled the lead after again being the beneficiary of a VAR decision, this time earning a penalty for a handball which saw Fotis Ioannidis hit the ball into the bottom left (52′).
AEK downed Giannina 4-2 at “Agia Sophia” ground to hold onto top spot.
Enosi went ahead 15 minutes in via midfielder Damian Szymanski before the Epirutans shockingly scored twice to go in front with goals to centre half Jan Sobocinski (35′) and midfielder Panagiotis Tzimas (45′).
The “yellow-blacks” came out firing in the second half and brought it level through striker Ezequiel Ponce’s header (69′) before midfielder Robert Ljubicic put them back in front (74′).
Ponce then wrapped up the match with another headed goal in the 79th minute.
PAOK sealed a 0-2 away success over a Panserraikos outfit that finished the game with only nine players on the field.
The Thessaloniki giants took the lead on the stroke of half time through young playmaker Giannis Konstantelias (45+2′).
The clash took a turn for the worse for the hosts as midfielder Maximiliano Moreira received his second yellow card (69′), with wing back Panagiotis Deligiannis then receiving a straight red (83′) to leave them with only nine players on the pitch.
PAOK secured the points after a 90+2nd minute own goal from defender Stavros Petavrakis, helping the club stay just one point behind the league leaders.
Olympiacos came from behind to defeat Panetolikos 1-2 away, ensuring they also not fall any further behind in the title race.
The Agrinio side went ahead in the 33rd minute via midfielder Frederico Duarte and they held onto their lead until a deflection from Pedro Silva saw the defender guide the ball into his own net (72′).
Olympiacos’ chief striker Ayoub El Kaabi then slotted the ball into the back of the net for what proved to be the winning goal (79′).
Asteras Tripolis saw their play-offs ambitions go up in flames after recording a 3-3 home draw with Kifisia.
The visitors pulled ahead through striker Ognjen Ozegovic’s penalty (14′) before the Arcadians equalised via forward Juan Bautista Miritello (32′).
Kifisia regained the advantage through midfielder Dusan Jovancic (36′) but Asteras Tripolis would cancel it out again, thanks to a strike from midfielder Evgeni Yablonski (40′), and they then took the lead themselves right before the break via winger Crespi (45+2′).
The travellers managed to bring it level again after a goal from centre Nikolaos Vafeas (73′), with the draw officially eliminating Asteras Tripolis from play-offs contention due to Lamia’s superior head-to-head record over the Arcadians.
The result proved fortunate for Lamia, who themselves suffered a 3-1 away defeat to Atromitos.
The Peristeriotes took the lead just two minutes into the contest via winger Denzel Jubitana before the Fthiotida team made it 1-1 through midfielder Vykintas Slivka’s effort (26′).
Striker Karol Angielski restored their advantage in the 61st minute before Jubitana was sent off for a second yellow (69′).
Despite being a man down, Atromitos managed to score again through Angielski to record an impressive victory.
Volos snapped their nine-match winless streak with a 3-1 home success over OFI, moving into 11th place in the process.
The Cretans struck first, thanks to a goal from wing back Eric Larsson (13′), though it would eventually be cancelled out after an own goal from defender Praxitelis Vouros (35′).
The Magnesia outfit pulled in front after a header from centre half Christos Sielis (61′) and substitute Facundo Bertoglio sealed the points with a 70th minute strike.
Greek Super League Ladder
1-AEK: 58
2-PAOK: 57
3-Panathinaikos: 55
4-Olympiacos: 53
5-Aris: 41
6-Lamia: 34
7-Asteras Tripolis: 31
8-Atromitos: 27
9-OFI: 24
10-Panserraikos: 24
11-Volos: 20
12-Panetolikos: 19
13-Kifisia: 18
14-PAS Giannina: 17
