By George Georgakopoulos

Olympiakos climbed to the top of the Super League table on Friday night after strolling to a 2-0 win over crosstown rival AEK.

Four days before their first-leg match in Russia for the Europa League against Rubin Kazan, the Reds produced 25 minutes of quality soccer at the start of the game at the Karaiskakis Stadium and took the game beyond a depleted and demoralized AEK.

The hosts led from the fifth minute thanks to an Olof Mellberg header and doubled their lead 19 minutes later courtesy of a Kevin Mirallas goal. The Belgian was later substituted due to injury and may well miss the match in Moscow on February 14.

AEK did little to justify its place at the third spot of the table, registering just five shots, although Olympiakos did not fare much better with nine, as the Reds saved some of their strength for the upcoming Europa League game.

The result has taken Olympiakos to 49 points from 21 games, while Panathinaikos has 48 from 20 games and is set to host Xanthi at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday.

In matches played on Wednesday, after being postponed from the sixth round of games, Levadiakos forced Asteras Tripolis’s first home defeat this season with a 1-0 score, while bottom club Doxa Dramas upset Panetolikos winning 2-0 at Agrinio for its first away win this season.

A few hours after the game Panetolikos coach Babis Tennes resigned and on Thursday he was replaced by Takis Lemonis.