Olympiacos overwhelmed Kifisia in their meeting to continue their great start in the league, with PAOK also downing Giannina to move temporarily into the top two.
The Piraeus giants smashed Kifisia 4-0 at “Georgios Karaiskakis” Stadium on Monday morning (AEST) in the Greek Super League’s fifth round, bouncing back from their disappointing loss in Europe to SC Freiburg.
The “red-whites” opened the scoring through a chipped penalty down the middle by striker Ayoub El Kaabi (21’), with winger Daniel Podence then making it two by heading in Francisco Ortega’s cross (25’).
Olympiacos won another penalty which striker Stefan Jovetic converted to give them their third (64’) before midfielder Vicente Iborra finished off the game with a late corner header (90+4’).
The win is an important one for the Piraeus side, putting pressure on Panathinaikos to defeat AEK in tomorrow’s much anticipated derby and maintain their perfect record in the championship (three straight victories so far).
PAOK earned a 1-3 away success over Giannina, led chiefly by young playmaker Giannis Konstantelias’ double.
Konstantelias put his side ahead early after goalkeeper Boris Klaiman’s attempted kick deflected off striker Brandon Thomas, the ball falling into the youngster’s path for an easy strike into an empty net (4’).
The Epirutans managed to equalise through a glancing corner header from winger Giorgos Pamlidis (25’), though Konstantelias restored the visitors’ lead with a lovely long-range effort into the bottom right (33’).
PAOK winger Andrija Zivkovic secured the result with a curling finish that went in off the left post (77’), but the Serbian caused some tension with his celebration wherein he gestured the crowd to shoosh (he did apologise after the game for it).
Aris secured a 3-0 home win against Panetolikos to continue their comeback in the league after starting the season with two losses, having now earned seven points from a possible nine since then.
Striker Loren Moron put the hosts in front with a strong strike from range into the bottom left corner (22’) before grabbing his second with a side-footed finish into the bottom right (55’).
Veteran Lazaros Christodoulopoulos scored the contest’s final goal, heading the ball during a corner set piece which just crossed the line before goalkeeper Stefanos Kapino could keep it out (85’).
Asteras Tripolis has prolonged Volos’ winless streak for another game, procuring a 1-2 away win to move temporarily into sixth place.
The Arcadians took the lead seven minutes in, thanks to a fantastic effort from range into the bottom right by striker Juan Bautista Miritello, and they soon made it two after midfielder Dino Grozdanovic headed the ball in from a corner (22’).
The Magnesia outfit got one back after midfielder Alexis Trouillet’s penalty strike managed to deflect in off goalkeeper Nikolaos Papadopoulos, who dove correctly to the left but could only get one hand on it as it ricocheted off him into the opposite bottom right corner.
The travellers hung on to their lead from then on, keeping Volos stuck on two points from their opening five fixtures.
Panserraikos sealed a vital 2-0 home triumph over Lamia on Sunday morning for their first three points of the season, giving the club a major confidence boost in their ambitions to preserve their place in the league.
The Serres club got on the scoreline in the 66th minute following a free kick set piece which saw goalkeeper Alexei Koselev parry a header into the path of striker Kosta Aleksic, who then simply smacked the ball into the net.
They followed it up quickly with a second, this time through a powerful long shot from midfielder Paschalis Staikos that sailed into the left side of the goal (taking a slight deflection off a diving Koselev in the process).
The result will give Panserraikos plenty of belief in their own abilities, especially with this marking their maiden victory and, even more importantly, their fourth consecutive match without loss.
OFI recorded a 1-1 home draw to Atromitos, a disappointing outcome for the Peristeriotes as they still search for their debut win this campaign.
The Cretans struck first via striker Luiz Phellype, who headed in a cross from the left by wing back Leroy Abanda into the right side of the goal (33’).
Atromitos rescued a point with an 86th minute effort from midfielder Denzel Jubitana, which he hit into the bottom left, though the visitors will no doubt be upset in going another game without a victory.
Greek Super League Ladder (games in hand)
1-Olympiacos: 13
2-PAOK: 10
3-Panathinaikos: 9 (3)
4-OFI: 8
5-Aris: 7
6-Asteras Tripolis: 7
7-Panserraikos: 6
8-AEK: 5 (3)
9-PAS Giannina: 5
10-Lamia: 5
11-Kifisia: 4
12-Volos: 2
13-Atromitos: 2 (4)
12-Panetolikos: 2 (4)
