APOEL’s hopes of clinching a fifth consecutive league title were put on hold on Sunday night as the Cypriot champions were held to a 0-0 draw by AEK Larnaca in a fiery top of the table clash in Nicosia.

Thomas Christiansen’s men had needed a win to mathematically clinch a 26th league title while Imanol Idiakez’s AEK needed a victory to blow the title race wide open.

Both sides had chances in the game with APOEL also having a decent penalty shout turned down when Zhivkov Milanov when tumbling down but referee Giorgos Nicolaou waved played on.

AEK were the better team in the first half before APOEL came out firing after the interval.

Tensions boiled over in stoppage time as some AEK players scuffled with players and coaching staff on the APOEL bench when they were prevented from taking a quick throw-in.

APOEL goalkeeper coach Dragoslav Jevric was sent off after the melee.

The draw still keeps APOEL as the favourites to land the league title as they sit four points ahead of second place AEK and five ahead of third place Apollon – who beat Omonia 3-0 in the other game on Sunday.

APOEL next face Omonia in the Nicosia derby before hosting Apollon – who they will also face in the Cyprus Coca-Cola Cup final – on the final day of the season.

AEK will play hosts AEL before then visiting Anorthosis. Apollon host Anorthosis before their final game against APOEL.

Apollon clinched a 3-0 win over Omonia to keep their title hopes alive and dent Omonia’s hopes of a top four finish and European football in the summer. Anton Maglica, Alex da Silva (penalty) and Paulo Vinicius scored the goals for Sofronis Avgoustis’ side.

In the big relegation battle in Larnaca, Doxa Katokopia clinched a vital 2-1 win at Karmiotissa to move level on points with the Polemidia club with two games left to go.

Herold Goulon and Henri Eninful scored early on for Doxa before David Poljanec pulled one back late for Karmiotissa.

In the Monday night kick-off, AEL will give their Europa League hopes a massive boost if they beat Anorthosis.