Olympiakos and PAOK are chasing Panathinaikos hard in the run-in to the end of the season. Both sides still have realistic ambitions of claiming the title after collecting wins in round 24.  The Reds chalked up a comfortable win over Atromitos thanks to an early goal by Matt Derbyshire (photo), who appears to be finding his form again after a lengthy injury layoff, and Costas Mitroglou in the fourth minute of second-half injury time. Olympiakos also hit the post twice in what was a fairly straightforward victory.

 

PAOK went top for 24 hours following their 3-0 win over Xanthi.  Still on a high from 

their win against Panathinaikos, Fernando Santoss men started the game decisively and opened the scoring in just the seventh minute thanks to the impressive Vierinha.

 

Just six minutes later, Vladan Ivic had made it 2-0 after nodding home from close range. Xanthi, who are battling relegation, made two substitutions at half-time, which saw former Wigan striker Nathan Ellington join the play. But the home side could not find a way through PAOK’s organised defence.  Instead, it was PAOK who scored the game’s third goal and put the result beyond doubt.

 

 The two goalscorers combined on 66 minutes, as Ivic crossed and Vierinha got ahead of his marker to slot home.

 

In Athens, AEK continued their good run of form as they beat Ergotelis 1-0. Raffik Djebbour scored the only goal of the game in the 12th minute.

 

They are fourth, four points ahead of Aris, who beat struggling Larissa 2-0 with goals from Mehdi Nafti and Javier Campora.  The defeat leaves Larissa in the relegation zone for the first time as Levadiakos produced an impressive display to fellow basement boys Giannena 4-1.

 

AEK Athens 1 (Djebbour 12) Ergotelis 0;

Aris 2 (Nafti 32, Campora 35) Larissa 0 (Radosavljevic red card 16);

Asteras Tripolis 0 Iraklis 4 (Iacob 20, 72, Kone 56, Milano pen 59);

Levadiakos 3 (Barkoglou 13, Agali 40, 71, Gonzales 59) PAS Giannena 1 (Bakayoko 87)

Olympiakos 2 (Derbyshire 18, Mitroglou 90) Atromitos 0;

Panionios 0 Panathinaikos 2 (Cisse 21, 55)

Panthrakikos 1 (Belek 27) Kavala 3 (Smolarek 6, Onwuachi 11, Rincon 45);

Xanthi 0 PAOK 3 (Vierinha 7, 66, Ivic 13)