PAOK FC

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.

The ruling party and the prime minister personally during the electoral campaign and once in office fervently declared their faith in the rule of law and the enforcement of laws.

The government found many cases in which the law was ignored and the rule of law was not respected. It also proclaimed that it cannot be blackmailed and that nobody is above the law.

Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas condemned the attack at the office of a New Democracy lawmaker by PAOK fans in the northern port city of Thessaloniki on Wednesday evening.

"We understand the love the friends PAOK have for their team, but we consider any violence unacceptable," he said. "Violence has no room in democracy."

PAOK has not enjoyed its return to the top of the Super League on Monday as it is threatened with the ultimate punishment for allegedly bending ownership rules. The response by the Thessaloniki club and its fans was explosive.

PAOK has the chance to reclaim the top spot of the Super League on Monday if it beats Volos at home, after leader Olympiakos shared a goalless draw with AEK at the Olympic Stadium of Athens on Sunday. However the weekend was marred by serious clashes between fans and police on a number of occasions around Athens.

Olympiakos and PAOK escaped from OFI and Lamia respectively with 1-0 away wins to keep up their fight for the Super League's top spot. AEK, Panathinaikos and Aris also won.

Olympiakos and PAOK scored comfortable home wins as they have turned the Super League into a two-horse race. Panathinaikos has climbed to fourth.

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

A coroner's report on Tuesday confirmed that the death of a 28-year-old Bulgarian man in Thessaloniki on Sunday night following clashes between rival soccer club fans occurred after he was hit by a car and was not caused by a group of local soccer fans who had reportedly been chasing him.

AEK inflicted the second loss of the season on Panathinaikos with a 100-97 score in the Athens derby on Sunday, to climb to third on the Basket League table.