UEFA Champions League:
Taremi strikes as Olympiacos finds playoff hopes
Iranian striker Mahdi Taremi was on target as Olympiacos was given fresh hopes of securing a playoff spot at the UEFA Champions League with a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Piraeus, Greece.
Backed by the roaring home supporters, the Greek champion got off to a dream start at the Karaiskakis Stadium, when Rodinei whipped a corner into the box and Costinha powered his header in for a second-minute lead.
Leverkusen, missing several key players including keeper Mark Flekken, Edmond Tapsoba and Nathan Tella, gradually dominated, with Olympiacos keeper Kostas Tzolakis producing a string of heroic saves.
However, it was the home side that scored again, hitting the Bundesliga club with a two-pass counter-attack and Taremi drilling in from another Rodinei assist in first-half stoppage time.
The goal took the Iranian’s tally to an impressive 14 goals and three assists in 23 appearances across all competitions since he joined The Legend from Internazionale in the summer.
Leverkusen tried to bounce back after the break but despite having possession was unable to beat Tzolakis, who made another fine save in the 80th minute in a one-on-one with substitute Patrik Schick.
The second straight win in the competition lifted Olympiacos to 22nd in the 36-team table on eight points, one behind Leverkusen, which is 19th. The top eight teams win automatic qualification for the round of 16 while the next 16 teams go into a playoff.
The final round of the league-phase fixtures will see Olympiacos visit Ajax Amsterdam next Wednesday, while Bayer Leverkusen will host Villarreal.
Elsewhere in the penultimate round in the league stage, Arsenal maintained its perfect record with a 3-1 victory over Inter in Milan, while Manchester City was stunned by the same scoreline at Norwegian minnow club Bodø/Glimt.
In Lisbon, Luis Suárez scored twice, including a 90th-minute winner as Sporting CP beat defending champion PSG 2-1 to move into the top eight.
French striker Kylian Mbappé netted two early strikes to inspire Real Madrid to a 6-1 rout of Monaco at home, with Club Brugge hammering bottom-club Kairat 4-1 in Astana.
FC Copenhagen shared the spoils with Serie A champion Napoli in a 1-1 draw at home, and Tottenham Hotspurs defeated 10-man Dortmund 2-0 in London to jump to fourth and find a bit of relief after a run of poor results in domestic action.
Ajax came from behind to walk away with a 2-1 win at Villarreal.