Bakasetas sends Panionios to the play-offs after win over PAOK

Tasos Bakasetas is Greece’s best hope for the left flank of the midfield, and he confirmed his great form with two spectacular goals on Sunday that helped Panionios produce the win of the weekend in the Super League.

The Nea Smyrni club defeated PAOK 3-1 at home to rise to fourth at the table and confirm its entry in the play-offs – that will of course matter only if a threatened Greek ban from international soccer is averted.

Adding to Bakasetas’s brace was an even more impressive Karim Ansarifard goal, with the Persian striker sealing the Panionios victory that an Alexandros Tziolis equalizer for PAOK had temporarily disputed.

Champions Olympiakos thrashed relegated Panthrakikos 4-0 behind closed doors at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, with two goals by Hernani and one each from Alan Pulido and Felipe Pardo.

Second-placed AEK dropped two points at bottom club Kalloni Lesvou (0-0), while Panathinaikos had Sebastian Leto to thank for its comeback that saw it beat spirited Veria 3-2 at home.

The Argentine, in his second spell at Panathinaikos, turned a 2-1 deficit from the goals by Thomas Nazlidis and Dimitris Melikiotis into a 3-2 win, with the decisive goal coming on the last minute of injury time. Panathinaikos had opened the score via an Achilleas Poungouras own goal.

These two results mean Panathinaikos has cut the distance from AEK to three points, with two games left in the regular season.

In other games, sixth-placed Platanias scored a 3-1 win over Xanthi at Hania, Levadiakos drew 1-1 with PAS Giannina, Asteras Tripolis won for the first time ever at Iraklis (1-0), and Atromitos saw off Panetolikos by the same score.