Federico Macheda

Youssef El Arabi scored a hat-trick to see Olympiakos alone on top of the Super League table after its win over Volos, but it was Panathinaikos that stole the weekend's show with its Athens derby win over AEK on Sunday.

An own goal by Dimitris Yiannoulis gave Olympiakos a huge victory at Touma over PAOK with a 1-0 score,taking the Reds five points ahead of the champion one week before the end of the regular season.

Panathinaikos beat PAOK 2-0 in Athens on Sunday and brought the champion down from the top spot where Olympiakos has returned as the Super League unfolds in a particularly exciting fashion despite the behind-the-scenes war between the two title rivals.

Panathinaikos averted a Cup upset by the skin of its teeth, while Olympiakos and PAOK eased through to the quarterfinals of the competition.

A highly controversial penalty awarded to PAOK on the sixth minute of the five-minute injury time of the game against Panathinaikos extended the champions' unbeaten record in the league that stretches to 20 months, and maintained Olympiakos' lead at the top to just two points.

PAOK and Olympiakos dropped their first points this season, in their local derbies, with PAOK leaving it very late to avoid a home loss to Aris and Olympiakos conceding a late equalizer at the Derby of Eternal Rivals on Sunday to draw with host Panathinaikos.

Olympiakos built on the self-confidence its triumph over AC Milan on Thursday has given it, and thrashed Lamia at home on Sunday to rise to second in the Super League, leapfrogging Atromitos who succumbed to host Panathinaikos.

PAOK has gone five points clear at the top of the Super League, as Olympiakos came from behind to end the unbeaten run of second-placed Atromitos in a spectacular match at Peristeri on Sunday. Champion AEK lost again.

Panathinaikos, Panionios and Iraklis have taken a leap toward advancing to the knockout stages of the Greek Cup after their midweek victories.

In games postponed from the previous week, the three teams scored wins that put them on pole position for graduating from the group stage, and proved their defense is in good shape as neither of them conceded any goals.

Panathinaikos has chosen former Manchester United forward Federico Macheda as its sole signing over 23 years, in a bid to add some experience and leadership to its youthful roster.