Olympiacos secure Greek title spoils
Sunday, March 20, 2011
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Olympiacos FC clinched their 38th league title in style on Sunday night as they swept aside AEK Athens FC 6-0 to take an unassailable ten-point lead at the top with three games remaining.
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Olympiacos FC clinched their 38th league title in style on Sunday night thanks to an emphatic 6-0 success against AEK Athens FC.
With three matches to go until the end of the season, third-placed AEK – who reached the Greek Cup final four day ago – required a victory to stand any realistic chance of denying the league leaders their 13th title in 15 years. They were unable to provide much resistance, though, as Rafik Djebbour registered inside two minutes, scoring against the side he left on a free transfer two months ago.
Five minutes later, Olof Mellberg doubled the lead, and with 20 minutes gone David Fuster made it 3-0. Djebbour (61), Kevin Mirallas (68) and José Holebas (71) completed a memorable coronation for Ernesto Valverde's side, while condemning AEK to their joint worst ever league defeat, the scoreline matching an identical loss to the same opponents in February 1981.
"Our performance tonight was typical of our season," said Valverde, after claiming a second Greek title with Olympiacos in his second spell at the club. "We deserve this title and the fact that we secured it with three matches to go is the proof. The scoreline was huge and it's very important for us to have recorded such a victory in a derby, although we shouldn't forget that AEK Athens had a big match in midweek which tired them out."
The numbers also speak volumes for Olympiacos, who have managed 22 wins in 27 matches, scored an unrivalled 55 goals so far and boast the meanest defence in the division, with just 14 goals conceded. In addition, the champions are the only team in Greece still boasting a 100% home record, after 13 victories.