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Olympiakos secure 40th Greek title
11-Mar-2013 5:15:00 AM
On the 88th anniversary of the club's founding, the side won the Super League with five games to go with a 3-0 derby victory over AEK Athens on Sunday
Olympiakos secured their 40th Super League victory on the anniversary of their founding 88 years ago on Sunday evening.
A 3-0 derby victory over AEK Athens ensured that their 16-point lead at the top of the table cannot be closed before the end of the campaign, with five matchdays still to play.
Homegrown defender Avraam Papadopoulos scored twice and Algerian winger Djamel Abdoun added a further strike to leave Asteras Tripolis with an insurmountable gap to close.
"I am delighted that I have come back into the team after such a long time out and that my return has coincided with winning another league title," Papadopoulos, who missed a large chunk of the season with an injury picked up at Euro 2012, told reporters.
"I've only scored a few goals in my career so it is always nice but they pale in comparison to winning a title and the 40th one in the club's history at that.
“For me the team comes before anything else ... I have gone through a very tough time with my injury but football is like that sometimes and it can often make you stronger."
Olympiakos coach Michel, who took over earlier in 2013, is delighted with the trophy but called for consistency to continue into the final few games of the league season.
"I feel very happy and satisfied. I want to thank Olympiakos for hiring me and giving me the opportunity to win this title,” he told the club’s official website.
“Now we want to win the final five games left until the end of the season, because this is the best way to prepare the team for next year.
“The players are well aware of the importance of this, and to see some of the things we can organise for the future. A great team never plays making compromises.
“Players who compete for a club like this, never play in a game just to play. With me, let's not hope that they will be more relaxed."
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