Reds under pressure
Newly promoted Kavala held soccer champion Olympiakos to a goal-less draw on Saturday, as Panathinaikos and AEK maintained their perfect records after the weekend’s Super League action. The 0-0 draw at home signaled the first points dropped for Olympiakos, just four days before its Champions League clash with Dutch side AZ Alkmaar tomorrow (9.45 p.m.) at the Karaiskakis Stadium, but its significance extends much further. Many Olympiakos fans had made their disappointment with the side’s recent performances known, either by not going to the match (a rarity, the ground was less than half-full) or by chanting the name of former coach Ernesto Valverde. The dull showings and points dropped have made manager Temuri Ketsbaia anxious about his position, even at this early stage of the campaign. He called on his players yesterday to «win against Alkmaar to change the atmosphere.» Panathinaikos is now alone on top of the Super League standings, with three wins in as many games, thanks to a late goal by Sebastian Leto that broke the defense of hosts Panthrakikos (1-0 at Komotini). Panathinaikos is hosting Turkey’s Gala-tasaray on Thursday for the Europa League. AEK made it two wins in two games, late on Sunday, by beating visiting Iraklis 1-0 through a Pantelis Kafes first-half header. Both teams ended the game with a man less. AEK is also involved in the Europa League, traveling to Britain on Thursday to face Everton. Aris has seven points from three league games after downing visitors PAS Giannina 1-0 on Saturday, while PAOK dropped its first points, drawing 1-1 at Asteras Tripolis. In what was the most impressive match of the weekend, Larissa and Atromitos drew 2-2 on Saturday in a game that had four goals, one missed penalty, one red card and two shots hitting the woodwork. In the other games: Levadiakos defeated 10-man Panionios 1-0 and Ergotelis downed Xanthi 1-0 in Crete.
