Asteras Tripolis

Olympiakos beat PAOK on Sunday and has climbed to the top of the Super League table alongside Aris, that lost at Panetolikos, and AEK that beat Asteras Tripolis at home.

Therefore the losses of both Thessaloniki teams mean that AEK and Olympiakos have joined Aris at the top and PAOK has dropped to fourth, while Panathinaikos won again and is now within two points from the leaders.

PAOK is the new leader of the Super League after AEK dropped two points at nine-man Xanthi away on Sunday.

Host PAOK had an easy afternoon beating promoted Lamia 4-0 through an Aleksandar Prijovic brace and goals from Marin Leovac and Dimitris Pelkas.

Olympiakos coach Michel heaped the pressure on Juventus after underlining the Italian giants' need for a home win in their Champions League Group A clash in Turin on Tuesday.

Juve's last-16 chances are hanging in the balance after dropping to third in the group, three points adrift of Atletico Madrid and Olympiakos, following respective away defeats to the pair in the past month.

By George Georgakopoulos

PAOK has opened a five-point gap at the top of the Super League after beating Ergotelis in Crete, while Olympiakos dropped two more points away from home, this time at Asteras Tripolis.

There was a triple success for Greek soccer on Thursday as PAOK, Panathinaikos and Asteras Tripolis made it through to the Europa League group stage.

PAOK had a challenging task after a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of its playoff tie to Zimbru Chisinau in Moldova. But the Thessaloniki side made light work of its visitors, winning Thursday's match 4-0.

Thursday proved a very productive night for two of the three Greek teams performing in the Europa League as Panathinaikos and Asteras Tripolis secured vital wins in the first legs of their playoff ties.