Greece: Olympiakos close on Panathinaikos

(GSM) – Olympiakos reduced the gap with local rivals and Greek leaders Panathinaikos from six to three points, beating Asteras Tripolis 1-3 while their rivals lost 0-2 to Kavala.

The defending champions could not have wished for a better start at Asteras as Lua Lua scored the opener on five minutes and Ieroklis Stoltidis made it 0-2 four minutes later.

Eder then pulled one back for the hosts in the 33rd minute but Olympiakos soon restored the gap as Lua Lua netted his second five minutes before the break, 1-3.

Panathinaikos hosted Kavala in Athens and suffered a very surprising 0-2 defeat. Both goals came from Ebi Smolarek, who first hit the target in the 68th minute and went on to do so again in the 85th.

‘Pana’ remain in the lead with 52 points from 22 games, but Olympiakos now only have three points less. Third-placed PAOK follow at another two points.