AEK Athens Defeats Panathinaikos 3-0 in Greek Super League Championship Group

In a vital match in the Greek Super League Championship Group, league leader AEK Athens defeated city rival Panathinaikos 3-0 at the 'Agia Sophia' Stadium on Monday. The victory extends AEK's lead at the top of the table to four points, making them the favorites to win the league title for the second consecutive year.

AEK thoroughly outplayed Panathinaikos, with Nicklas Eliasson scoring two goals and Ezequiel Ponce also finding the net. Eliasson opened the scoring early in the match, giving AEK a lead they would not relinquish. The match statistics highlight AEK's dominance, as they recorded 17 shots (8 on target) compared to Panathinaikos' 7 shots (2 on target).

Panathinaikos, which has been waiting for the national title since 2010, is now trailing AEK by 5 points. The team made several substitutions during the match, including bringing in T. Trindade de Vilhena, A. Šporar, and G. Vagiannidis, but were unable to equalize. Panathinaikos' Slovenian players, including Adam Gnezda Čerin, Andraž Šporar, and Benjamin Verbič, were unable to prevent the defeat. The match also saw yellow cards issued to T. Jedvaj and S. Akaydin of Panathinaikos.

The loss meant Panathinaikos missed the chance to take the top spot in the league. Other title contenders also dropped points, with PAOK suffering a setback in their title hopes after drawing 1-1 with Lamia, while Olympiacos effectively ended their chances of winning the league with a 1-1 draw against Aris.

Why this matters: The result solidifies AEK Athens' position at the top of the Greek Super League and puts them in a strong position to win the title. The defeat is a significant blow to Panathinaikos' title aspirations, as they now face an uphill battle to catch their city rivals with only a few matches remaining in the season.

Following the match, AEK Athens head coach Matías Almeyda praised his team's performance, stating, "We played a great game today and deserved the victory. The players showed their quality and determination to win. We will continue to take each match as it comes, but this is a significant step towards our goal of winning the league." The win puts AEK in a commanding position as they look to secure the Greek Super League title in the coming weeks.

Key Takeaways

• AEK Athens defeated Panathinaikos 3-0 in a vital Greek Super League match.
• AEK extended their lead at the top of the table to 4 points, making them favorites to win the title.
• Panathinaikos, who haven't won the title since 2010, now trail AEK by 5 points.
• Other title contenders PAOK and Olympiacos dropped points, hurting their title hopes.
• AEK coach Almeyda praised the team's performance, calling it a significant step towards the league title.