PAOK takes lead in Super League play-offs

PAOK has taken the upper hand in the battle for Greece’s second Champions League spot after seeing off Panionios at home, while AEK defeated Panathinaikos in the Athens derby on Thursday.

Panionios is in disarray due to the infighting generated by the possible transfer of Tasos Bakasetas to AEK, and conceded two goals in the first half to Stefanos Athanasiadis for PAOK’s easy 2-0 win in front of empty stands at Toumba.

In Athens AEK was far better that three days earlier when it had lost 3-0 at Panathinaikos, and won the reverse fixture 3-1 on Thursday, while the Greens played from late in first second half with 10 men.

Helder Barbosa scored twice and Jakob Johansson once for AEK, with substitute Sebastian Leto temporarily pulling one back (2-1) for the Greens, that had Lucas Villafanies sent off.

With two games let to play, PAOK tops the play-off mini-league table with 10 points, AEK has eight, Panathinaikos has stayed at seven and Panionios is on one.

On Sunday Panathinaikos hosts Panionios and AEK entertains PAOK.