Numerous Greek and Cypriot clubs aspiring to advance into UEFA’s club competitions this season maintained their hopes of progressing to the group stage after this week’s qualifying matches, which saw, among others, Panathinaikos secure an historic victory against Olympique de Marseille.
Greece’s and Cyprus’ teams took to the field amidst the mourning for the tragic death of a young AEK fan early in the week during clashes outside “Agia Sophia” ground between radical supporters of Enosi and Dinamo Zagreb. As a result, the clash between the teams was postponed for next week.
On the pitch, whilst Trifylli fans were celebrating their great win on Thursday morning (AEST), Olympiacos sealed a similarly important 1-0 home win over KRC Genk on Friday morning to take the lead in their Europa League third qualifying round tie.
The Piraeus club scored the match’s only goal inside the first minute when a low ball from right back Rodinei reached playmaker Kostas Fortounis, who then buried it into the roof of the net to give the “red-whites” the lead heading into next week’s second fixture.
Aris also recorded a major 1-0 home success against Dynamo Kyiv in the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League (ECL), thanks to a penalty from forward Luis Palma (69′) which just managed to squeeze into the bottom left despite a strong attempt from goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan.
PAOK managed to escape with a 0-0 away draw in their first leg with HNK Hajduk Split to set up a tense decider at their fortress of “Toumba” Stadium, something that will give them confidence as they too look to progress to the play-offs of the ECL.
Panathinaikos fought their way to a famous victory over Olympique de Marseille, putting themselves in the ascendency of the tie and boosting their dreams of a Champions League berth.
The “Trifylli” downed the French giants 1-0 at “Leoforos” Stadium on Thursday morning (AEST) in the first leg of the Champions League’s third qualifying round.
The Greens dominated throughout the contest, though they failed to convert their possession into threatening goal-scoring opportunities.
The match switched in the 65th minute when Marseille midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia was sent off after receiving a second booking.
Panathinaikos lifted again with the extra-man advantage and eventually broke through their opponents’ defences in the 83rd minute, thanks to a trio of substitutes.
Bernard, Laszlo Kleinheisler and Fotis Ioannidis combined excellently to drive into the box, with the Brazilian playmaker getting one-on-one with the goalkeeper and finishing the ball into the bottom left.
The “Trifylli” now have a precious lead heading into next week’s match in Marseille which they will hope to successfully protect and thus advance into the play-offs.
Omonia earned a vital 1-0 home triumph against FC Midtjylland to take the lead in their ECL third qualifying round tie.
The hosts went ahead after striker Roman Bezus pounced on an error at the back, with his fairly tame effort hit straight at goalkeeper Jonas Lossl, who somehow failed to keep the ball out as it went through him and into the net (39′).
APOEL sealed a strong 0-2 away win against FC Dila Gori to all but confirm their place in the ECL play-offs.
The “Thrylos” took the lead on the verge of half time following a free kick delivery from near the halfway line, with centre half Jose Angel Crespo pouncing on the rebound from goalkeeper Yevhenii Kucherenko to score from close range (45+1′).
Midfielder Georgios Efrem made it two with a direct free kick which snuck underneath Kucherenko’s body into the bottom right (64′).
The Georgian club’s night finished on an even worse night as captain Alef Santos de Araujo committed a last man foul to earn a red card (88′).
AEK Larnaca came from behind to seal a 1-1 home draw against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday morning.
The Israeli outfit went ahead in the 64th minute through a finish from Yonatan Cohen before the hosts managed to equalise via substitute forward Imad Faraj (80′).
Aris Limassol bagged a late goal in a 2-1 away defeat to RKS Rakow Czestochowa on Wednesday morning in the Champions League’s third qualifying round, keeping them in the mix for the play-offs.
The Polish side opened the scoring early through a tap-in from midfielder Vladyslav Kochergin (7′), doubling their lead after striker Fabian Piasecki drove his penalty into the bottom left (63′).
The Cypriot champions got one back, thanks to a long-range effort from forward Mihlali Mayambela, giving them hope heading into next week’s deciding clash.
