Panathinaikos beat AEK 2-0 at OAKA and retake Super League top spot

Early goals decide the Athens derby

Panathinaikos took control of the Athens derby at the OAKA stadium almost from the first whistle. Andreas Tetteh scored within the first minute, after Santino Antino pressed Rota high up the pitch, won the ball and found Tetteh. Tetteh struck from outside the box and beat Brinioli to make it 1-0. The sources give the moment as 35 or 36 seconds, so the exact timing differs between reports, but all of them place the goal inside the opening minute. The home side kept the ball for long spells after that and pushed AEK back into their own half. AEK struggled to build attacks through midfield, and the home side's pressing forced repeated mistakes from the visitors.

Woodwork denies a bigger lead

Panathinaikos hit the woodwork several times in the first half. Antino's shot from the edge of the area struck the junction of the post and crossbar and went out. Around the 38th minute, Livai Garcia's effort was saved by Brinioli, who had to stretch to keep the ball out. In the 41st minute Garcia struck again, and his drive hit the inside of the right post before running along the goal line and out. The score stayed 1-0 at the interval, despite the home side creating the clearer chances.

The second half followed the same pattern, and a goal came early again. In the 49th minute Antino received a pass from Kyriakopoulos, cut inside past the AEK defence and finished past Brinioli to make it 2-0. Sources describe AEK's defence as slow to react to the run. Earlier in the half AEK had a chance of their own, when Magyar's shot was cleared off the line by the home defenders at the 47th minute.

Red card leaves Panathinaikos with ten men

Panathinaikos finished the match with ten players. In the 70th minute, Kanga struck Koita out of play during a midfield clash, and the referee Sven Jablonski checked the incident on VAR before going to the pitch-side review. He then showed Kanga a straight red card. AEK pressed for a way back with the extra man, but their best chance came in the closing stages, when Zinho's shot was held by the home side's goalkeeper. The defeat ended AEK's unbeaten run of 31 league matches, and the side dropped to fourth on 17 points, seven behind Panathinaikos, although they have one match fewer played.

The win returned Panathinaikos to the top of the table on 24 points. Olympiakos, who beat Kifisia 2-3 on Saturday, 31 October, are second on 22 points, while PAOK are third on 18.

Panathinaikos24

Olympiakos22

PAOK18

AEK17

Panathinaikos

24 points

Olympiakos

22 points

PAOK

18 points

AEK

17 points

Data from the article text

Next fixtures

Panathinaikos travel to Iraklis in Thessaloniki on Sunday, 8 November, with kick-off at 17:30. On the same day AEK host Levadiakos at 17:00, and coach Marko Nikolić will look to recover from a defeat that ended a long unbeaten run. Panathinaikos coach Jakob Nistrup will have his side take on Iraklis at the top of the table. AEK also have a Champions League match against Real Madrid on Wednesday, 4 November, at Nea Filadelfeia.