Reds beat Veria to claim league lead

By George Georgakopoulos

Olympiakos thumped hitherto Super League leader Veria 3-0 on Saturday to go alone on top of the table for the first time after four rounds of games.

Four days after putting three past Atletico Madrid for the Champions League, the champions produced the same tally at home against Veria and had Costas Mitroglou again on the scoresheet, as he converted a first-half penalty for his first league goal this season. That was followed by late strikes from Jorge Benitez and Pajtim Kasami.

Panathinaikos came from 2-1 down to beat its jinx side Platanias 3-2 at Hania for its second win in four games. Having never beaten Platanias away, Panathinaikos led through Nikos Karelis, Platanias scored through Ousmane Coulibaly and David Torres on either side of half-time, but Panathinaikos responded with goals from Thanasis Dinas and Zeca, to climb to seven points.

Ergotelis produced the most emphatic victory of the weekend, beating Niki Volou 4-1 away, to get off the mark with its first win this season.

Gennaro Gattuso is staying on at the OFI bench after the 1-0 home victory over Atromitos, while Xanthi, still looking for a coach after the dismissal of Sakis Tsiolis, defeated visiting Levadiakos 2-0.

In other weekend games, Panthrakikos defeated 10-man Panionios 1-0, Kerkyra downed PAS Giannina 2-0 and Asteras Tripolis saw off Kalloni Lesvou 1-0.

On Monday Panetolikos entertains PAOK.