Olympiacos claimed bragging rights in the first Eternal Derby of the season, defeating Panathinaikos 1-0 at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium to end their rivals’ unbeaten start to the Greek Super League campaign.
Defender Panagiotis Retsos scored the decisive goal in the 34th minute, giving the Piraeus side a victory that sends an early message in the championship race.
Olympiacos were forced to finish the match with 10 men after Saliakas received his second yellow card in the 66th minute. However, the home side held on to secure all three points and hand Panathinaikos their first defeat of the season.
Retsos makes the difference
Olympiacos started aggressively, pressing high and looking to make the most of their home advantage.
Chiquinho tested Panathinaikos goalkeeper Peña from distance in the fourth minute, before Olympiacos missed a promising opportunity a minute later. Fortounis received the ball inside the penalty area after a combination with Chiquinho but failed to direct his shot on target.
Panathinaikos threatened on the counterattack, with Tetteh attempting to break through the Olympiacos defence before being stopped by Pirola and Retsos.
The visitors came close to opening the scoring in the 29th minute. Following a pass from Taborda, Calabria delivered the ball from the right and Tetteh attempted a backheel, but Olympiacos goalkeeper Ortega was alert enough to make the save.
Olympiacos responded with pressure of their own, and the breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute.
Fortounis delivered a free kick from the left, with Freuler getting his head to the ball before it reached Retsos. The defender finished confidently, sending the ball past Peña to put Olympiacos 1-0 ahead.
Panathinaikos looked for an immediate response, with Tetteh breaking forward in the 36th minute before his effort was deflected behind for a corner. Neither side managed to create another clear opportunity before half-time.
Olympiacos hold firm after red card
Olympiacos resumed the second half with the same intensity, while Panathinaikos struggled to impose themselves on the contest.
Fortounis sent a free kick narrowly wide in the 52nd minute, before Freuler came close with a header from a corner three minutes later.
Panathinaikos coach Rafa Benítez introduced another attacking option in the 62nd minute, bringing on Levi García for Taborda as the visitors looked for an equaliser.
The match shifted further in Panathinaikos’ favour when Saliakas was sent off in the 66th minute after receiving his second yellow card, leaving Olympiacos with 10 players for the remainder of the contest.
Chiquinho fired wide from the edge of the penalty area shortly afterwards, but Olympiacos continued to defend their advantage.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the home side protected their lead to the final whistle, securing a significant victory in one of Greek football’s fiercest rivalries.
A statement victory in the title race
The result gives Olympiacos an important psychological boost early in the season while bringing Panathinaikos’ unbeaten run to an end.
For the Piraeus club, the 1-0 victory was made all the more significant by the dismissal of Saliakas, with the team managing to preserve its lead despite playing more than 20 minutes with 10 men.
The first Eternal Derby of the campaign belonged to Olympiacos, with Retsos’ first-half strike proving decisive.
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