The Piraeus giants are officially league champions once more after their 1-0 win against AEK put them mathematically clear for their 48th premiership.
Olympiacos defeated AEK at “Georgios Karaiskakis” Stadium on Monday morning (AEST) in the third round of the Greek Super League’s play-offs to send their fans into a frenzy.
The hosts found what proved to be the winning goal in the 55th minute from star striker Ayoub El Kaabi, whose effort helped his side officially win its first championship in three seasons.
It is a disappointing third loss in a row for AEK as they now have fallen even further behind in the race for second.
Panathinaikos’ hopes of a second-place finish were given a major boost as they downed PAOK 3-1 at the Olympic Stadium.
The Greens pounced on costly errors to take a two-nil lead into the break.
They first scored in the 33rd minute when Karol Swiderski stole the ball from a PAOK player, starting a rapid attack that saw the Pole pass the ball to Azzedine Ounahi for a tap-in.
The “Trifylli” then made it two after another rapid counter-attack following a PAOK free kick saw Ounahi played through on the left side, with the Moroccan driving the ball into the box and unleashing a strike that took a massive deflection on its way into the net (42′).
Panathinaikos found a third soon after the restart when right back Giorgos Vagiannidis delivered a perfect ball for Swiderski, with the former PAOK striker heading it into the top left (50′).
The Thessaloniki giants found a consolation goal in the 78th minute by capitalising on an error by Greens midfielder Manolis Siopis, with the subsequent attack leading to young playmaker Giannis Konstantelias guiding the ball home into an empty net.
Panathinaikos now holds a four-point lead over PAOK, strengthening their claim for at least third place with their sights well and truly set on second.
A 77th minute header from Jakub Brabec was enough to help Aris record a 1-0 home win over Atromitos in the fifth-eighth play-offs.
The win means the “yellow-blacks” maintain their strong position in fifth with a six-point gap over their nearest rivals, Asteras Tripolis.
The Arcadians sealed a 2-1 win against OFI to ensure they stay just within reach of Aris as they strive to somehow steal fifth from their grasp.
The Cretans were first to score, thanks to a 14th minute penalty from Marko Bakic, though the Arcadians responded well as winger Tasos Chatzigiovanis found the back of the net (34′).
The hosts then went in front soon after the break via Nicholas Gioacchini (49′), which proved enough to grab the win.
Volos scored a huge 1-0 home triumph over in-form Levadiakos on Sunday morning in the play-outs, with the win taking them above the relegation zone.
The Magnesia outfit owed the victory to a 12th minute goal from Juanpi, which helped them leap into twelfth place.
Kallithea made way for Volos after they fell 3-1 away against Panserraikos.
The Athenian side struck first in the fifth minute via Migouel Alfarela, though it was soon cancelled out by Panserraikos midfielder Paschalis Staikos (12′).
The game turned sour for the visitors in the 52nd minute when centre half Triantafyllos Pasalidis received a straight red, and the Serres club made the most of it by scoring twice in the final ten minutes.
The first came from the penalty spot in the 84th minute through their chief marksman, Jefte Betancor, before Juan Salazar guaranteed the points with a 90th minute goal.
Panetolikos snapped a five-game winless streak with a 1-0 success against Lamia.
The Agrinio side found the winning goal in the 22nd minute, thanks to a penalty from midfielder Georgios Liavas.
The Fthiotida side is now 11 points away from safety, a huge gap that suggests the club’s time in the top flight will come to an end this season.
Greek Super League Ladder
Championship Group
1-Olympiacos: 66
2-Panathinaikos: 56
3-AEK: 53
4-PAOK: 52
Fifth-Eighth
5-Aris: 30
6-Asteras Tripolis: 24
7-Atromitos: 21
8-OFI: 18
Relegation Group
9-Panetolikos: 37
10-Levadiakos: 34
11-Panserraikos: 32
12-Volos: 27
13-Kallithea: 25
14-Lamia: 16
