Berg goal keeps Panathinaikos going

Panathinaikos shook off another bad night in Europe on Thursday to defeat Atromitos in the league on Sunday and cut the distance from the top to four points, at least for 24 hours as leader Olympiakos is in action on Monday at PAS Giannina.

The Greens had Marcus Berg to thank for their only goal in their second consecutive 1-0 league win under new manager Marinos Ouzounidis, this time behind closed doors at Peristeri.

This was one of just 12 goals scored in seven weekend games, four of which came from AEK that thrashed 10-man Levadiakos 4-0 on Saturday. The Yellows leaped up to third at the table, six points off the pace through goals by Andre Simoes, Tomas Pekhart, Costas Galanopoulos and Patito Rodriguez.

Xanthi has risen to a surprising joint third with a Thodoris Vassilakakis goal that gave the Thrace club a 1-0 home win over Larissa.

Panionios is a point behind AEK and Xanthi, in fifth, after beating Kerkyra 1-0, and Panetolikos moved away from trouble with a 2-0 victory over Iraklis.

PAOK lies ninth after its 3-0 win over Platanias in Thessaloniki, while Asteras Tripolis was unable to beat lowly Veria (0-0).