Olympiacos has delivered a huge statement of their title credentials after smashing AEK, leaping into first place to send an ominous warning to their fellow premiership rivals.
The Piraeus giants sealed a 4-1 victory against Enosi at “Georgios Karaiskakis” Stadium on Monday morning in the premier clash of the Greek Super League’s 12th round, seizing first in the incredibly tight championship race.
The chief architect of their win was striker Ayoub El Kaabi, who bagged a hat-trick in the game with his first coming from the penalty spot in the seventh minute.
AEK levelled it up through forward Anthony Martial (43′), though El Kaabi changed the momentum quickly after the break with two goals (49′, 51′) to take his league tally for the season to ten.
Gelson Martins added in one final goal in the 62nd minute to put the game to bed, with the visitors’ night taking another bad turn when winger Erik Lamela was given a straight red following a VAR check (81′).
The victory helped the “red-whites” climb into outright first, though the rest of the pack is still hot on their heels, particularly PAOK who is just one point behind.
PAOK preserved their narrow gap with Olympiacos after coming from behind to beat Asteras Tripolis 1-2 away.
The Arcadians put up a strong fight in the contest and drew first blood when striker Federico Macheda found the back of the net (50′).
The Thessaloniki club equalised in the 68th minute after a shot from substitute Kiril Despodov took a deflection off defender Simon Deli on its way into the goal.
PAOK subsequently gained the lead through defender Baba Rahman in the 85th minute to win the game.
Panathinaikos fought their way to a dramatic 1-2 away triumph over Panetolikos, a crucial victory that keeps them firmly in the title mix.
The Greens took the lead ten minutes in after Filip Djuricic capitalised on the rebound from striker Alexander Jeremejeff’s header onto the right post, with the Serbian guiding the ball into the bottom right.
The Agrinio outfit came out firing in the second period and brought it level through former Panathinaikos midfielder Giannis Bouzoukis (52′).
The “Trifylli” managed to find a winner in the 90+2nd minute after playmaker Anastasios Bakasetas drilled a grounded pass across goal into a dangerous area, with teammate Willian Arao knocking it in.
The Canaries finished the game with ten players on the field after defender Epameinondas Pantelakis received a late second yellow (90+5′).
Volos stunned Aris with a 0-1 success at “Kleanthis Vikelidis” ground on Sunday morning, handing the hosts their first home defeat this campaign.
The Magnesia side found what proved to be the winning goal in the 36th minute, thanks to a strike from marksman Mark Koszta.
The travellers fought hard as they kept Aris goalless for the rest of the contest, marking the second defeat in a row for the Thessaloniki side and also the first game this season where they have failed to score.
Lamia came from behind to play out a 1-1 stalemate against OFI at “Athanasios Diakos” ground.
The Cretans opened the scoring in the fourth minute after forward Taxiarchis Fountas converted his penalty into the bottom left.
The Fthiotida outfit made it level soon after via a headed goal from striker Anestis Vlachomitros, with both sides ultimately forced to settle for a draw.
Panserraikos struck at the death to extend Kaliithea’s winless run with a 1-2 away victory, keeping the Athenian team stuck on last place in the process.
The Serres club broke through in the 42nd minute of the clash through a long-range effort by midfielder Zisis Chatzistravos into the bottom right.
The hosts were given a huge disadvantage in the 70th minute after substitute Andrei Motoc was sent off for a dangerous tackle, though they somehow managed to overcome it and equalise via veteran playmaker Mathieu Valbuena (74′).
Panserraikos ultimately regained the lead in the dying minutes, thanks to a beautiful goal from striker Jefte Betancor wherein the Spaniard lobbed the ball on the spin from the left side of the box with the keeper falling over in his attempt to save it (90+2′).
Atromitos hosts Levadiakos on Tuesday morning in the remaining fixture of the round.
Greek Super League Ladder (games in hand)
1-Olympiacos: 24
2-PAOK: 23
3-Panathinaikos: 22
4-AEK: 21
5-Aris: 21
6-Panetolikos: 18
7-Asteras Tripolis: 16
8-OFI: 16
9-Atromitos: 14 (11)
10-Panserraikos: 13
11-Volos: 13
12-Levadiakos: 9 (11)
13-Lamia: 8
14-Kallithea: 7
