AEK is just one point shy from winning the championship after beating Aris 2-1 in Thessaloniki while Panathinaikos lost 1-0 to Olympiacos. This triggered thousands of the fans to start the title-winning "party".
A few hours after the end of the matches, about 10,000 "yellow and black" fans gathered in the square of Aetos in Nea Filadelfeia and set up... a party for the "coming" championship.
See the video:
The AEK team was abhorred by hundreds of its fans at the "Macedonia" airport who welcomed them shouting "here they are, here they are the champions".
AEK has moved within inches of the premiership with a huge win over Aris, pouncing on Panathinaikos’ devastating loss against Olympiacos that has all but stopped them from ending their championship drought.
Enosi is now just one point away from the title after downing Aris 1-2 at “Kleanthis Vikelidis” Stadium on Monday morning (AEST) in the ninth round of the Greek Super League play-offs.
The Thessaloniki giants were first on the scoreboard after striker Andre Gray converted a VAR-awarded penalty into the right side of the goal (17′).
The visitors drew level six minutes later, thanks to a tidy finish into the bottom right from striker Thomas Van Weert, and Steven Zuber then put them in front with a strong strike into the same corner (43′).
The result proved to be a massive one for AEK as they now stand to win their 13th league championship following Panathinaikos’ loss.
The “Trifylli” suffered a 1-0 defeat to archenemy Olympiacos at “Georgios Karaiskakis” ground, with the Piraeus giants effectively destroying their title dreams.
The “red-whites” found the match’s lone goal 68 minutes in through the work of their wing backs, with Rodinei passing the ball from the right across goal for Oleg Reabciuk to hit into the net from close range.
The hosts closed the match a man down after defender Ramon was given a red card following a VAR check (95′), though they hung on to bag all three points.
The match is Panathinaikos’ first loss against Olympiacos in coach Ivan Jovanic’s tenure, coming at the absolute worst moment as the Greens now need a miracle to steal the premiership from AEK.
PAOK sealed a 0-2 away success over Volos to maintain their push for third position.
The Double-headed eagle of the North pulled ahead via a composed finish from winger Andrija Zijkovic into the bottom left (28′).
The game turned even worse for the Magnesia club after striker Felipe Pires was sent off for a poor tackle following a VAR check (45+2′).
The “black-whites” soon after ensured the victory after striker Brandon Thomas headed home a cross from midfielder Stefan Schwab behind his body and into the bottom left (57′).
The outcome means PAOK still stands a chance of finishing third in the league, should they defeat Olympiacos, though their eyes will no doubt be firmly set on the Cup which would not only award them a trophy but also give them the Europa League spot currently promised to third place.
A late equaliser from Lamia helped send Levadiakos officially back down to the second division on Sunday morning (AEST) in the sixth round of the play-outs.
The two sides drew 1-1 at “Athanasios Diakos” ground with winger Zoran Tosic grabbing a goal at the death to cruelly relegate the visitors.
Levadiakos’ first half went superbly, suggesting that a win was on the cards, with goalkeeper David Grof successfully keeping out striker Jeison Medina’s penalty (42′) which was followed minutes later by midfielder Giorgos Nikas burying his own spot kick down the middle (45+1′).
The travellers thought they had the points wrapped up when Tosic released a curling grounded effort form just outside the box that found its way into the bottom left (90+3′), the final nail in Levadiakos’ fight to avoid relegation.
Ionikos kept their survival hopes alive with a 2-2 away draw against OFI, setting up a blockbuster final round meeting with Lamia to decide the fates of both clubs.
Striker Zinedine Machach put the Nikaia outfit ahead 13 minutes in through a tidy close-range finish, but the Cretans equalised on the stroke of half time via a brilliant free kick into the top left by midfielder Marko Basic (45′).
OFI went a man down early into the second period after a VAR check saw centre half Triantafyllos Pasalidis sent off (52′) and Machach soon pounced with another goal, this time tapping the ball into an empty net (65′).
Striker Nouha Dicko managed to get the hosts back once again on level terms with a composed header (81′), with Ionikos defender Rachid Bouhenna sent off from the bench in the aftermath (83′).
Atromitos earned a 2-0 home success against Panetolikos to keep on the heels of OFI in the battle for seventh.
The Peristeriotes went ahead in the 30th minute after a shot from captain and winger Viktor Klonaridis deflected off a defender and into the path of teammate Aguibou Camara, who then tapped it in.
Klonaridis guaranteed the points in the 85th after slotting away a one-on-one chance into the top right (85′).
Giannina held on for a 1-0 home triumph over Asteras Tripolis, thanks to midfielder Kevin Rosero’s 84th minute winner following a free kick, with the Epirutans recording their third straight win to move into ninth place.
Greek Super League Ladder
Championship Group
1-AEK: 80
2-Panathinaikos: 77
3-Olympiacos: 70
4-PAOK: 67
5-Aris: 50
6-Volos: 40
Relegation Group
1-OFI: 38
2-Atromitos: 37
3-Giannina: 33
4-Asteras Tripolis: 30
5-Panetolikos: 30
6-Lamia: 28
7-Ionikos: 26
8-Levadiakos: 25
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