Dramatic wins for Panathinaikos and AEK, Olympiacos held by PAOK
Calabria’s stoppage-time penalty gives Panathinaikos a dramatic win at Iraklis and a four-point lead, as Olympiacos and PAOK share the spoils and ten-man AEK come from behind.
Panathinaikos were the big winners of the Greek league’s 10th round. The Greens snatched a dramatic 2-1 win at Iraklis in Thessaloniki and stretched their lead at the top to four points, after Olympiacos and PAOK drew 1-1 in the derby. AEK also won 2-1 against Levadiakos, despite finishing with ten men.
The leaders faced a tough test at the Kaftanzoglio, where Iraklis went ahead in the 17th minute: Vouros knocked a free-kick cross back to Pedro Marques, who finished from close range. Panathinaikos struggled against a well-organised defence but levelled in the 56th minute, when Cyriel Dessers capitalised on a Santino Andino pass and a defensive error. The decisive moment came in stoppage time. In the 91st minute, the ball struck Zulević’s hand in the box, and after a VAR review the referee awarded a penalty. Davide Calabria, who also scored against CSKA in the Conference League, kept his cool to win it. Jakob Neestrup’s side now have 27 points and eight straight wins in all competitions.
At “Georgios Karaiskakis,” Olympiacos had the upper hand in the first half but struggled to find space, while PAOK’s best chance fell to Christos Zafeiris in the 31st minute. The hosts went ahead in the 58th minute through substitute Armando González, who converted a low Jota Silva cross just two minutes after coming on. PAOK hit back in the 71st minute after a costly mistake, as Andrija Živković intercepted a pass during a build-up from a goal kick and made it 1-1. Imanol Alguacil’s side stay second with 23 points, while PAOK have 19.
AEK had to come from behind against Levadiakos, who went ahead in the 26th minute through Moses Cobnan, set up by Alexandru Pantea. Early in the second half, VAR awarded AEK a penalty for handball, and Luka Jović equalised. Four minutes later, Barnabás Varga headed in a Mijat Gaćinović cross for 2-1. Răzvan Marin was sent off in the 80th minute after a VAR review of his foul on Ioannis Kosti, but AEK held on to keep their perfect home record. The champions are third with 20 points and a game in hand.
In Sunday’s other games, OFI and Atromitos drew 0-0, while Asteras and Kalamata drew 1-1.
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