Olympiacos’ European journey has been extended after an emphatic win secured their place into the next stage of the Europa Conference League, with AEK and Panathinaikos both suffering unfortunate losses to crash out of Europe.
The Piraeus giants managed to earn a 5-2 victory inside an empty “Georgios Karaiskakis” Stadium in the sixth and final matchday of the Europa League group stage on Friday morning (AEDT), ensuring their place in the knockout rounds of the Europa Conference League (ECL).
The “red-whites” bagged their first in the 21st minute after striker Ayoub El Kaabi headed in a cross from right back Rodinei.
Winger Daniel Podence then scored a quickfire brace, first via a curling left-footed finish into the top left (40′) and then through a strike into the bottom left (42′).
Olympiacos scored their fourth inside the first minute of the second half after a corner header from defender Panagiotis Retsos struck the crossbar and deflected into the goal off the back of goalkeeper Veljko Ilic (46′).
The Serbian side got one back just two minutes later through a goal from midifleder Ifet Djakovac before going down to ten men following a second yellow card to midfielder Nikola Kuveljic (60′).
In the same minute as their red card, the travellers managed to score a second via a swift counter-attack that was finished off by striker Aleksandar Cirkovich.
Striker Youssef El Arabi then put the ball in from close range to give the hosts a fifth and final goal (67′).
The result means Olympiacos finish their group in third with seven points, meaning they have qualified for the ECL knockout round play-offs.
AEK fell 3-1 away to Ajax to finish their group in fourth place with four points, just missing out on the Europa Conference League (ECL) spot as a result.
Forward Chuba Akpom opened the scoring with a 5th minute corner header to put the Dutch giants in front before Enosi striker Levi Garcia equalised with a phenomenal header from a free kick delivery (11′).
Ajax midfielder Kenneth Taylor then restored his side’s lead with a strong finish into the bottom left (20′) before Akpom gave them their third with a finish that crept under goalkeeper Giorgos Athanasiadis (56′).
Panathinaikos suffered a disappointing 1-2 home loss to Maccabi Haifa, sending them out of Europe altogether in the process.
The Israeli side took the lead 20 minutes into the game after a cross from the left was headed in by forward Dean David.
The Greens took control afterwards and created chances, though failed to convert them and the visitors pounced on that by doubling their lead via a strike from midfielder and captain Tjaronn Chery (74′).
Striker Fotis Ioannidis gave the “Trifylli” some hope when he scored a corner header in the 89th minute, but it ultimately proved to be too late for them to grab a result from the match.
The loss relegated Panathinaikos to last place in their group, amassing only four points from their Europa League campaign.
Aris Limassol concluded their European campaign with a 1-3 home loss to AC Sparta Praha, finishing in last position with four points.
The Czech team went ahead early after striker Jan Kuchta guided the ball into the bottom left from close range (4′).
They soon doubled it through a fantastic long shot from winger Veljko Birmancevic (11′), who then also struck again with a finish in the 45+1st minute.
The Cypriot club earned a late consolation through midfielder Leo Bengtsson, who chipped the ball over goalkeeper Peter Vindahl Jensen from a one-on-one opportunity (84′).
PAOK wrapped up the Europa Conference League group stage with a final 4-2 win at home over HJK Helsinki, finishing group winners with 16 points.
The Finnish outfit took an early lead, thanks to an effort into the bottom right by striker Bojan Radulovic (6′), though the Thessaloniki giants made it level through midfielder Magomed Ozdoev (37′).
Young playmaker Giannis Konstantelias put the hosts in front with a finish into the bottom right (47′) and they soon doubled their advantage after a shot deflected off Helsinki defender Joono Toivio and into the net (53′).
PAOK midfielder Thomas Murg bagged his side’s final goal of the game with a grounded strike into the bottom left (85′), with substitute Perparim Hetemaj giving the Finnish club a late consolation, hitting a penalty in off the left post (90+1′).
