PAOK proves it’s never too late
PAOK scored twice in the last six minutes of the game to return from Xanthi with all three points on Sunday, but Panathinaikos succumbed to Panetolikos for the first time in its history.
While Olympiakos had an easy ride at home against Kalloni Lesvou on Saturday, winning 4-0 with goals by Javier Saviola, Chori Dominguez, Costas Manolas and Paulo Machado, Greece’s other representatives in Europe, PAOK had a hard time beating Xanthi 2-1 in Thrace.
Petros Mandalos gave Xanthi a 1-0 advantage in the 13th minute, but the host could not hold on to its lead in the end. Costas Katsouranis equalized in the 87th and Lino scored PAOK’s winner in injury time to keep its distance from leader Olympiakos to 10 points.
Atromitos, in third, overcame Ergotelis 1-0 with a Tasos Karamanos goal to leave Panathinaikos five points behind. The Greens began the new year on the wrong foot as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Panetolikos through an Henri Camara goal.
Asteras Tripolis is now one point behind Panathinaikos after its 2-0 win at PAS Giannina, but the most entertaining game was the 2-2 draw between Veria and Platanias.
In other weekend games Panthrakikos beat Levadiakos 1-0 and Panionios shared a goalless draw with OFI.
The league’s bottom two clubs, Apollon and Aris, face off on Monday at Aris’s Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium.
