Europa League

Panathinaikos announced on Tuesday the sudden departure of manager Ivan Jovanovic and his replacement with legendary Turkey coach Fatih Terim, as of Wednesday.

After two-and-a-half years at the helm of Panathinaikos, Serb Jovanovic, one of the most popular coaches this century among Panathinaikos supporters, was shown the door on Tuesday.

ATHENS - Serbia's TSC lost to Greek side Olympiacos 5-2 away from home in the last round of the UEFA Europa League group stage on Thursday evening.

Ayoub El Kaabi (21 min), Daniel Podence (40, 42 min), Vejko Ilic (46 min OG) and Youssef El-Arabi (68 min) provided the goals for Olympiacos, while Ifet Djakovac (48 min) and Aleksandar Cvetkovic (61 min) scored for TSC.

Olympiakos and PAOK will represent Greece in Europe in the new year, playing in the knock-out stages of the Europa Conference League, while AEK and Panathinaikos dropped out of Europe after their losses on Thursday.

The Greek government has asked the Super League to hold championship matches without spectators for two months because of the risk of trouble. 

This measure, announced by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis on Monday after a meeting at Maximos Mansion on Sunday, follows serious clashes involving sports fans that resulted in a police officer being critically injured by a flare.

BACKA TOPOLA - Serbia's TSC lost 1-0 at home to English Premier League side West Ham United in a UEFA Europa League Group A Matchday 5 game on Thursday evening.

TSC missed several chances in the first half in Backa Topola and Tomas Soucek scored the winner for the visitors in the 89th minute.

Panathinaikos, Olympiakos and AEK suffered defeats on Thursday that deprive them of any chances of proceeding in the Europa League, but PAOK scored a famous victory in Germany over Eintracht Frankfurt to secure the top spot of its Conference League group.

BERN - Red Star Belgrade lost 2-0 to Swiss side Young Boys in a UEFA Champions League Group G Matchday 5 game in Bern on Tuesday evening.

Red Star paid the price for wasting about half a dozen clear-cut chances, losing all hopes of a Europa League knock-out stage berth next spring.

Greek teams had a bad night in Europe on Thursday, with Panathinaikos, Olympiakos and AEK suffering defeats in the Europa League that jeopardize their future in the competition, while PAOK could not beat Aberdeen at home for the Conference League - but still snatched the ticket for the next round.

Thursday was a big night for Olympiakos that defeated visiting West Ham in Piraeus for the Europa League, while AEK and Panathinaikos went down to French opposition. PAOK snatched victory in Scotland for the Conference League.

Turkish champions Galatasaray will begin their first UEFA Champions League campaign in four years in a strong group featuring Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

The two giants will be favourites to advance from Group A, which also includes FC Copenhagen, the Danish champions.