Reds, PAOK stay on top

Olympiakos and PAOK are hotly contesting a place in next season’s Champions League after wins for both teams yesterday meant that they remained joint-top of the play-off league. The clubs from Piraeus and Thessaloniki both have seven points after two games thanks to a 2-1 win over AEK and a 2-0 victory over Aris respectively. Two headers won the game for Olympiakos. The first came from Swedish defender Olof Mellberg in the 11th minute and the second from Italian midfielder Enzo Maresca two minutes before halftime. Sandwiched in between these two goals, Rafik Djebbour scored a penalty to make it 1-1. In the Thessaloniki derby between PAOK and Aris, the hosts took the lead in the 27th minute through Vladan Ivic’s fine finish from inside the area. It was 2-0 10 minutes later, when Mirko Savini headed home from a corner.