Olympiacos has one hand on the league trophy after dominating Panathinaikos in a well-earned victory in front of their home faithful to kick off the play-offs.
The Piraeus giants soundly beat the “Trifylli” 4-2 at “Georgios Karaiskakis” Stadium on Monday morning (AEDT) in the opening round of the play-offs which, couple with AEK’s loss to PAOK, has seen their lead in first grow to ten points.
The game had a shocking start as an alert Roman Yaremchuk pressed on goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski, whose attempted kick smacked into the forward’s outstretched leg and went into the net to give the hosts the lead in the very first minute of the clash.
The goal was a perfect symbol of the clash itself with Olympiacos, by and large, the more switched-on side for the entire contest.
The “red-whites” found their second in the 16th minute after a lovely finish into the bottom left by midfielder Chiquinho, with the Greens getting one back in the 25th minute through a powerful shot into the top right corner by left back Filip Mladenovic.
Yaremchuk stepped up once again early into the second period when his header deflected off his shoulder into the back of the net (51′).
Panathinaikos captain Fotis Ioannidis gave his side a sliver of hope with a penalty goal in the 75th minute, but it was quickly extinguished as young attacker Charalampos Kostoulas drilled a headed effort from a free kick delivery into the net (82′).
Ioannidis was sent off for a second yellow in the 90+2nd minute, adding further disappointment to the dismal evening for the Greens.
PAOK mustered an impressive comeback to beat rivals AEK 2-3 at “Agia Sophia” Stadium, effectively ending any hopes of Enosi pushing for the title.
The hosts went in front in the 22nd minute after veteran playmaker Petros Mantalos scored his penalty attempt, and they doubled their lead quickly into the second half through forward Erik Lamela (49′).
Youngster Giannis Konstantelias brought PAOK back into the game with a goal in the 58th minute before winger Andrija Zivkovic made it 2-2 in the 66th minute.
The Thessaloniki giants completed the remarkable turnaround in the 85th minute via Dimitris Pelkas, who scored just one minute after coming on as a substitute.
The result brings PAOK firmly in contention for second place, the battle which will have the most intrigue given Olympiacos is so far ahead in first.
Aris opened the fifth-eighth play-offs with a 0-2 away win against Asteras Tripolis on Sunday morning to preserve their three-point lead in fifth.
The Thessaloniki side broke through in the 37th minute after centre half Jakub Brabec sent the ball home from close range, and they doubled it in the second period via winger Kike Saverio (58′).
Any hope the Arcadians had of getting back into the game were quickly dashed in the 63rd minute when midfielder Eder Gonzalez was handed a red card following a VAR check.
Atromitos strengthened their push for fifth with a major 1-2 away win over OFI.
The Peristeriotes opened the scoring in the sixth minute after winger Georgios Tzovaras leapt into the air and headed the ball home from a Thanasis Karamanis cross.
The Cretans responded quickly after with Thiago Nuss scoring a header of his own after meeting Levan Shengelia’s corner delivery in the 12th minute.
Atromitos managed to restore the lead in the 87th minute via Makana Baku, which they managed to preserve even after they went down to ten players following Brayan Palmezano’s injury time red card (90+2′).
Lamia secured a 1-1 away draw with Panserraikos in the first matchday of the relegation play-outs on Monday morning, preserving the seven-point gap separating them from 12th.
The Serres club went ahead in the 67th minute through winger Juan Salazar, with the Fthiotida outfit cancelling it out soon after via Anestis Vlachomitros’s 78th minute penalty.
Kallithea rescued a 1-1 home draw with Volos on Sunday morning to maintain the one-point difference between the two relegation-threatened clubs.
The Magnesia side snuck in front in the 64th minute, thanks to an own goal by Mor Ndiaye, though it was cancelled out right at the death through substitute Keelan Lebon (90+5′).
Kallithea closed the game with ten on the field when Georgios Manthatis earned his second booking in the 90+7th minute.
Levadiakos sealed an impressive 1-2 comeback win away against Panetolikos to narrow the gap between the two at the top.
The Agrinio side went into the break in front after midfielder Georgios Liavas converted his penalty kick (31′).
The “blue-greens” came out firing in the second period as they brought it level in the 72nd minute, thanks to a headed goal from striker Jose Romo, and they then nabbed all three points with a 90+3rd minute winner from Marios Vichos.
Greek Super League Ladder
Championship Group
1-Olympiacos: 63
2-AEK: 53
3-Panathinaikos: 50
4-PAOK: 49
Fifth-Eighth
5-Aris: 24
6-Atromitos: 21
7-OFI: 18
8-Asteras Tripolis: 18
Relegation Group
9-Panetolikos: 33
10-Levadiakos: 31
11-Panserraikos: 29
12-Volos: 23
13-Kallithea: 22
14-Lamia: 16
