The Thessaloniki giants have put a break on Olympiacos’ 48th league win after scoring a most impressive win at home in a game they finished with just ten players on the field.

PAOK defeated the Piraeus giants 2-1 at “Toumba” Stadium on Monday morning (AEST) in the second round of the Greek Super League’s play-offs, handing the “red-whites” their first league loss since October last year.

The Thessaloniki outfit came out firing as they scored twice in the first 11 minutes.

Their first came in the fifth minute when young playmaker Giannis Konstantelias was played through one-on-one with goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, with the PAOK attacker slotting it into the bottom right.

Former Olympiacos midfielder Mady Camara then popped up with a corner header that nutmegged Tzolakis to double the lead in the 11th minute, giving the hosts a great early hold on the contest.

The league leaders got back into the game in the 52nd minute when a ball across goal by forward Roman Yaremchuk was inadvertently knocked into the net by PAOK defender Giannis Michailidis.

The game was complicated further for PAOK when Camara received a straight red in the 74th minute for a foul on Yaremchuk just outside the box, though the home side managed to hang on to earn arguably their most important win yet of the season.

PAOK’s victory ends an impressive 18-game unbeaten run in the league for Olympiacos which, in the grand scheme of things, should still have little consequence on their ultimate goal of winning the championship.

Panathinaikos sealed a 3-1 triumph over AEK to go level on points in a very tight battle for second place.

The Greens opened the scoring in the 17th minute when midfielder Nemanja Maksimovic headed the ball home from close range following a save by goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli.

Enosi made it 1-1 early into the second period from a corner kick with centre half Harold Moukoudi hitting the ball home from the rebound after an initial header onto the crossbar by Frantzdy Pierrot (47′).

Filip Djuricic put the “Trifylli” back in front in the 80th minute with a lovely, curled finish into the bottom right corner that Brignoli flicked onto the post before it settled into the net.

Substitute striker Alexander Jeremejeff then confirmed the points with a tap-in finish in the 88th minute.

The result brings Panathinaikos and PAOK firmly in contention for second spot in what is setting up to be a fierce battle for the final Champions League qualifying round place.

Volos played out a 0-0 home draw with Panetolikos in the second round of the relegation play-outs, a disappointing result that sees them fall into 13th and thus into the relegation zone.

Kallithea clawed their way out of 13th with a vital 0-2 away win against Lamia on Sunday morning, courtesy of goals from Migouel Alfarela (45+1′) and Keelan Lebon (78′), a devastating result for the Fthiotida club as they now look destined to go down.

Levadiakos has gone level with Panetolikos on points after downing Panserraikos 3-0 at home to strengthen their chances of finishing first of the relegation group.

The “blue-greens” pulled ahead in the 28th minute, thanks to a strike from forward Alen Ozbolt, before defender Panagiotis Liagas made it two right before half time (44′).

Marksman Zini then guaranteed the points with a penalty goal in the 80th minute, continuing Levadiakos’ great start to the play-outs.

Chief striker Loren Moron spurred Aris to a 2-0 home success over OFI to assure they remain in fifth spot for another week.

Moron popped up with two crucial goals in the second half, first scoring from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute before confirming the win with another goal at the death (90+3′).

The victory puts them six points clear of Atromitos, with the Peristeriotes to play Asteras Tripolis on Tuesday morning.

Greek Super League Ladder (game in hand)

Championship Group

1-Olympiacos: 63

2-AEK: 53

3-Panathinaikos: 53

4-PAOK: 52

Fifth-Eighth

5-Aris: 27

6-Atromitos: 21 (27)

7-OFI: 18

8-Asteras Tripolis: 18 (27)

Relegation Group

9-Panetolikos: 34

10-Levadiakos: 34

11-Panserraikos: 29

12-Kallithea: 25

12-Volos: 24

14-Lamia: 16