PAOK clinch Greek league title after 34 years

PAOK clinch Greek league title after 34 years

by Joseph Anthony
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Undefeated PAOK secured their first Greek league title in 34 years with a game to spare after crushing Levadiakos 5-0 on Sunday.


Thessaloniki-based PAOK also became the first non-Athens team to win the league title since Larissa did it back in 1988.

The hosts, in front of a fiery crowd at their Toumba stadium, kicked off proceedings early with Yevhen Shakhov tapping in from close range in the third minute.

Diego Biseswar made it 2-0 with a chipped penalty in the eighth and Fernandoโ€™s darting header in the 53rd triggered wild celebrations in the stands, with fans lighting dozens of flares.

Shakhov added a fourth on the hour and Karol Swiderski completed the rout nine minutes from time to make sure Romanian coach Razvan Lucescuโ€™s team stays unbeaten in a near-flawless campaign.

They are on 77 points, with second-placed Olympiakos on 72 and one game left in the season.

Thousands of PAOK fans celebrated the expected title win a day early on Saturday with a march along the northern cityโ€™s promenade.

They started pouring onto the streets on the final whistle on Sunday to celebrate the clubโ€™s third league title and their first since 1985.


The triumph is especially sweet for PAOK, who have a long-standing bitter football rivalry with Athenian clubs, after they missed out on last seasonโ€™s league crown due to their own fansโ€™ trouble during the final matches of the campaign.

Apart from having points docked, the club also had Russian-born owner Ivan Savvidis banned for three years after storming on to the pitch with a gun in a holster.

On Sunday, Savvidis greeted each player outside the stadium before the game and remained in the vicinity, watching the game on television.

REUTERS

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