Vieirinha

PAOK defeated Panathinaikos 2-0 in controversial fashion in Thessaloniki on Wednesday to take a significant lead in the most important pairing of the Greek Cup quarterfinals, while Olympiakos, AEK and Atromitos also got the edge from the week's first-leg games.

A highly controversial penalty awarded to PAOK on the sixth minute of the five-minute injury time of the game against Panathinaikos extended the champions' unbeaten record in the league that stretches to 20 months, and maintained Olympiakos' lead at the top to just two points.

PAOK celebrated on Sunday, and well into Monday morning, the third league title in its history, and the first after 34 years on a historic night at Toumba Stadium of Thessaloniki.

PAOK is closer than ever not only to winning its first league title after 34 years, but also to finishing the league unbeaten, after comprehensively defeating its main rival Olympiakos 3-1 at home on Sunday.

An own goal sufficed for PAOK to record a precious 1-0 result at Olympiakos on Sunday, to go joint top of the Super League table with 13 points along with Atromitos. The Thessaloniki team extended its perfect record to five wins, but had started the season on minus two.

PAOK produced an emphatic 3-0 victory at Basel on Wednesday to march on in the Champions league qualifiers. The Greek Cup winners advanced on a 5-1 aggregate score to the third qualifying round of the competition, where they will face Spartak Moscow.