Aris is mathematically relegated, while Olympiakos loses again

By George Georgakopoulos

Aris has been mathematically relegated from the Super League after its home loss to Ergotelis on Wednesday, while Olympiakos suffered its third league loss this year, going down at Asteras Tripolis.

The popular Thessaloniki club lost 2-0 to Ergotelis and is relegated for the third time in its long history, just a day after it celebrated its 100th birthday. The heavy debts that have condemned the club to a depleted roster and to court battles may also entail a relegation straight to the amateur divisions, following the pattern set by AEK last year.

The other team to be automatically relegated will probably be one from Veria, Platanias Hanion and Apollon Smyrnis. On Wednesday Veria beat 10-man Xanthi 3-2 at home and Platanias defeated Levadiakos 2-0 at Hania, while Apollon greets PAOK on Thursday and will climb out of the drop zone with a win, three rounds of games before the end of the regular season.

The team to finish third from bottom will face a relegation play-off with the team to finish third in the second division.

After its losses to Panathinaikos and PAOK, and still smarting from its elimination from the Champions league by Manchester United, champion Olympiakos suffered yet another defeat on Wednesday: Asteras won 2-1 with goals by Pablo De Blasis and Mauricio Carrasco, the second one being from an offside position in time added on. Teenager Nikos Vergos had equalized for Olympiakos.

Second-placed Atromitos lost 2-0 at OFI Crete and is now level on points not only with PAOK – that has a game in hand – but also with Panathinaikos. The Greens scored their fifth league win in a row thrashing Kalloni Lesvou 3-0 at home as the race for Greece’s spot for the Champions League qualifiers...