Footballers

The European dream has ended for Olympiakos, as the 2-2 home draw last week was followed by a 1-0 loss at Dynamo Kiev on Thursday. The Ukrainians proved more effective in attack over the two legs, taking most of the few chances they created, and advanced on a 3-2 aggregate score to the last 16 of the Europa League.

Champion Ludogorets continues to fulfill their long-term selection strategy. After the presentation of the experienced defender Stanislav Manolev late last night, the club management finalized the transfer of the top scorer from the Israeli Championship Mavis Tchibota frm Bnei Yahuda.

PAOK is closer than ever not only to winning its first league title after 34 years, but also to finishing the league unbeaten, after comprehensively defeating its main rival Olympiakos 3-1 at home on Sunday.

AEK announced on Tuesday the resignation of coach Marinos Ouzounidis, with his successor remaining unknown for the time being.

In a statement on the official website of the Athens club the Greek manager said he was proud to have taken the team to the group stage of the Champions League, but conceded that the champion is nowhere near holding on to its title.

Japan's Shinji Kagawa enjoyed a dream debut for Beşiktaş, the Borussia Dortmund loanee scoring a double within three minutes of coming on as a late substitute late on Feb. 3.

Ten-man PAOK preserved its unbeaten record in the Super League snatching a 1-1 draw at AEK, so Olympiakos has reduced the distance from the top to six points ahead of the all-important clash with PAOK next Sunday in Thessaloniki.

PAOK and AEK scored narrow home wins for the Super League on Wednesday ahead of their clash on Sunday in Athens, while Olympiakos thrashed visiting Larissa and Panathinaikos won at Panetolikos.

Greece striker Konstantinos Mitroglou joined Galatasaray on an 18-month loan deal from French side Olympique de Marseille on the final day of the January transfer window, the Turkish club said on Thursday.

Galatasaray will pay 30-year-old Mitroglou 1.5 million euros ($1.72 million) for the 2018-19 season and 2.6 million euros for 2019-20 season, the Turkish club added.

PAOK, Olympiakos and AEK scored comfortabel wins over the weekend, as they prepare to face each other in the Super League next month, with PAOK maintaining its eight-point advantage at the top of the table.