Panathinaikos suffered an early blow in their attempts to win a 21st Superleague title tonight when they were beaten 1-0 at Panthrakikos.

Jesualdo Ferreira's men finished second to Olympiacos last season and their chances of toppling them this time will continue to shorten if they continue to produce results like this one. Dimitrios Papadopoulos did the damage, scoring with a low shot from 12 yards with seven minutes left.

Olympiacos kept their side of the bargain too, winning 2-1 at Giannina to go top with nine points from nine. All the goals came in an eight-minute second-half spell, with substitute Kostas Mitroglou and Rafik Djebbour scoring for the champions and Fotis Georgiou responding.

In the day's other game, Veria ended with eight men but still drew 0-0 at Levadiakos. Miroslaw Sznaucner was the first to see red (46), with goalkeeper Jonathan Lopez (83) and Everton (90) also getting their marching orders.