PAOK’s home draw with Aberdeen stood out as the only positive result in what was a poor matchday across the board for Greece, with the Thessaloniki side guaranteeing themselves of a berth in the next phase of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

PAOK drew 2-2 with Aberdeen at “Toumba” Stadium in Europe’s fourth matchday, officially confirming their qualification out of the group stage as a result.

The Scottish outfit opened the scoring in the 14th minute through striker Duk before the Thessaloniki Giants brought it back level via playmaker Taison (23’).

PAOK went ahead in the 67th minute with a header into the bottom left from Mbwana Samatta, the striker glancing the ball in following a header across goal by centre back William Troost-Ekong.

Aberdeen would cancel it out just three minutes later with a fantastic free kick from distance into the bottom left by winger Jamie McGrath, with the goal proving the final decisive moment of the contest.

The draw means PAOK remain first in their group with ten points, holding a big enough margin over Aberdeen and HJK Helsinki to reserve a spot in the next stage of the competition.

The Thessaloniki would prove to be the only side that won points this round as the other four Greek/Cypriot clubs lost in the Europa League.

AEK fell 0-2 to Olympique de Marseille at “Agia Sophia” Stadium to stay in third position with four points.

The French team went in front with a 25th minute corner header from centre half Chancel Mbemba  before wrapping up the points with a late second goal that saw midfielder Jordan Veretout set up teammate Ismaila Sarr for an easy tap-in (90+3’).

Olympiacos fought hard in what was a narrow 1-0 away defeat to West Ham in what looms as a damaging blow to their aims of making it to the next round of the Europa League.

The Hammers found what proved to be the winner in the 73rd minute when midfielder Lucas Paqueta volleyed the ball in with composure into the bottom left, the goal being awarded by VAR after initially being called offside.

The loss means the Piraeus side remain on four points, five behind West Ham and SC Freiburg, meaning they would have to win their two other games to stand even a chance of advancing in the tournament.

Panathinaikos suffered perhaps the most disappointing result of the matchday, falling 3-1 away to Stade Rennais despite playing most of the match with an extra player on the field.

The game started horribly for the Greens as striker Fabian Rieder struck a free kick that snuck through goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli’s legs (9’).

The “Trifylli” managed to equalise after VAR awarded them a penalty for a foul on Fotis Ioannidis by Rennes defender Keanuel Belocian, who was sent off as a result, with the Greek forward guiding the ball down the middle (34’).

Panathinaikos had the lion’s share of possession from then on but the French side held strong and eventually grabbed the lead through a counter-attack that saw the ball fall into the path of substitute Ibrahim Salah for a tap-in (65’).

The hosts doubled their advantage five minutes later with a penalty from another substitute in Ludovic Blas, the midfielder smashing his spot-kick down the middle to secure a huge victory (70’).

The result means the Greens fall down into third place in their group with four points as their chances of advancing in this tournament begin to look increasingly unlikely.

Aris Limassol’s qualification dreams into the knockout phase also took a hit as they lost 2-0 in their away game with Real Betis, ensuring they remain last in their group with three points.

The Spanish club pulled ahead via a strike from close range by striker Borja Iglesias (34’) before making it two with a powerful shot from right back Aitor Ruibal that went through goalkeeper Vana Alves’ hands (64’).

Alves made up for this mistake by saving Betis midfielder Nabil Fekir’s penalty, successfully diving to his left (76’), though the hosts would soon after find their third through centre back Marc Roca’s left-footed strike into the bottom right from a corner set piece.

Substitute Aleksandr Kokorin gave the Cypriot club a late consolation (84’), though Betis would have the final say through a goal by winger Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (90+4’).