AEK dominated the Athens derby but were left to rue their missed chances, with Panathinaikos protecting their goal at all costs to salvage a point, keeping the fate of the premiership in the balance.
The “Trifylli” and Enosi played out a 0-0 draw at “Leoforos” Stadium on Monday morning in the seventh round of the Greek Super League, ensuring each side remains level in first as we move into the final three games of the season.
The first half was filled with goal-scoring chances predominantly from AEK.
Forward Steven Zuber twice struck the left post in the 3rd and 35th minutes, the latter also seeing teammate Niclas Eliasson attempt his own effort which deflected off defender Juankar and into the hands of goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli.
The Greens had their own golden opportunity to score when forward Bernard’s free kick delivery was met by striker Andraz Sporar, who headed it towards goal only for goalkeeper Giorgos Athanasiadis to pull off a superb reflex save to keep it out (45′).
Despite persistent pressure, Panathinaikos hung on to frustrate their title rivals.
Both clubs are now preparing for an incredibly tense ten-day period covering the final three matchdays that will decide the championship.
PAOK reigned supreme in a high-scoring Thessaloniki derby, downing Aris 3-2 at “Toumba” Stadium to stay within range of third spot.
The “yellow-blacks” went in front first after some successful pressure saw them win the ball off defender Konstantinos Koulierakis, and striker Aboubakar Kamara took advantage by smacking the ball into the top right (45′).
The Double-headed eagle of the North overturned the deficit in the second period, equalising via a clever lob from playmaker Taison over Cuesta into the top right (56′) before taking the lead through Stefan Schwab’s penalty into the bottom right (62′).
Aris made it level once more through a phenomenal long shot from midfielder Vladimir Darida which sailed off the crossbar and into the top left (70′).
PAOK winger Andrija Zivkovic then followed suit with his own long-range effort into the top left, his getting a slight deflection from defender Marvin Peersman (78′), in what proved to be the decisive goal.
The visitors finished the game a man down after Kamara was given a late second yellow (90+3′).
Olympiacos decimated Volos 5-0 at “Georgios Karaiskakis” ground to defend their three-point lead over PAOK in third.
The “red-whites” opened the scoring in the 19th minute through centre half Andreas Ntoi, who volleyed the ball from a Kostas Fortounis free kick into the bottom left for his first ever goal.
Midfielder Pajtim Kasami doubled their advantage six minutes later after being set up expertly by playmaker Mathieu Valbuena, before winger Pep Biel made it three with a strike that deflected off centre back Christos Sielis onto the crossbar and into the top right (45+1′).
Striker Cedric Bakambu was next to bag a goal, finishing the ball into the bottom right (61′) for his 18th league goal this term, and teammate Youssef El Arabi grabbed the final goal of the match with the slightest of touches on a pass into the box from winger Giorgos Masouras (69′).
Panetolikos came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at home with Levadiakos on Sunday morning in the fifth round of the play-outs, a frustrating outcome for the visitors who are scrambling to escape relegation.
The ‘blue-greens’ went ahead in the 10th minute after Giorgos Nikas’ penalty went in off the left post, with the midfielder then heading in a cross to double their lead (44′).
The Agrinio side responded well in the second half as substitute Joao Pedro got one back on the hour mark with his own header, guiding the ball into the right side of the goal, before the forward struck a late injury time spot-kick into the bottom left (90+14′), rescuing a point for Panetolikos.
Giannina recorded a vital 0-1 away victory over Ionikos to significantly improve their chances of avoiding relegation.
The Epirutans found the winning goal 64 minutes in after winger Ahmad Mendes Moreira pounced on a rebound from a save by goalkeeper Lefteris Choutesiotis, smacking it into the net.
The Nikaia side will be dismayed by the result, though they still sit one point in front of last-placed Levadiakos.
Lamia held on for a scoreless away draw with Asteras Tripolis to move two points clear of the relegation spots as they continue their own battle to remain in the first division for next season.
OFI bagged a massive 2-3 away triumph against Atromitos to soar ahead of their opponents and go top of the relegation group.
Midfielder Assane Diousse gave the Cretans their first in the eight minute with a powerful strike into the top left before winger Gaetan Robail equalised for the Peristeriotes with a penalty into the bottom left (16′).
Midfielder Miguel Mellado restored the travellers’ lead after a colossal error from goalkeeper and captain Andreas Gianniotis, who passed the ball into the path of an unsuspecting teammate which was intercepted by the Argentine and hit over him into the net (27′).
Atromitos soon recovered from this mistake soon after centre half Praxitelis Vouros accidentally knocked the ball into his own goal with a failed clearance of a grounded pass across the box (35′).
OFI once more took the lead through striker Nouha Dicko, who headed in teammate Eric Larsson’s cross, in what proved to be the winning goal (65′).
Greek Super League Ladder
Championship Group
1-Panathinaikos: 76
2-AEK: 76
3-Olympiacos: 66
4-PAOK: 63
5-Aris: 47
6-Volos: 40
Relegation Group
1-OFI: 37
2-Atromitos: 34
3-Giannina: 30
4-Asteras Tripolis: 30
5-Panetolikos: 30
6-Lamia: 27
7-Ionikos: 25
8-Levadiakos: 24
