First Division. Three teams for the title, but the presence of Saloniki was very strong this season, so it was more of a duel between Saloniki and Athens/Piraeus than the familiar contest between Athens and Piraeus. At the opposite side of the table one team was the outsider without hope, but 7 clubs fought to avoid the next to last place in the table.
Panserraikos (Serrai) was the weakest team in the league, finishing last with 18 points.
PAS Ioannina ended 15th with 23 points, but were not directly relegated: in case of equal points goal-difference was not decisive factor, but relegation play-off had to played. So, the little brave club, which so well managed playing in the top league for a decade faced Athenean Panionios in the last chance for survival. Regular time did not provide winner, but in overtime Panionios scored twice and won 2-0. PAS Ioannina was relegated.
Panionios (Athens) barely escaped relegation – they were 14th with 23 points and better goal-difference than PAS Ionnina, but that was nothing. Luckily, they prevailed in the play-off and remained in the league for the next season.
Egaleo (Athens) fought for survival most and achieved its goal – 24 points placed them 13th.
This may or may not be picture of Apollon Kalamarias (Saloniki) of 1983-84 season, but is close enough at least. Nothing significant – they were 12th with 24 points.
Doxa (Drama) also survived – 11th with 24 points.
Apollon (Athens) was the highest placed of those with 24 points, thanks to best goal-difference: 10th.
Ethnikos (Piraeus) was also in danger of relegation, but at the end they were 9th with 26 points.
OFI Ctere (Iraklion) practically established itself as solid mid-table team by now, so no surprise here: 8th with 27 points.
AEK (Athens) lost ground, finishing outside the championship race – 7th with 30 points.
AE Larissa had, arguably, their best season in history so far – 6th with 32 points, but there was more. Clearly going up.
PAOK (Saloniki) – 5th with 35 points. Not strong enough to run for the title, but solid as usually they were.
Aris (Saloniki) – 4th with 39 points. They may have been part of the group competing for the title, but lost steam at one point. Still, they finished ahead of city rivals PAOK, which was great.
But the truly best team of Saloniki was Iraklis, ranking 3rd in the local scale. They fought bravely for the title, but finished 3rd with 42 points. It could have been exactly the complicated local rivalry preventing any club from Saloniki winning this year: all were quite equal, thus losing points in the derbies.
There was no way Olympiakos (Piraeus) to drop out of title battle, but this was not a great season for them. Finished 2nd with 43 points, but it was not very expiring year.
And who else, but Panathinaikos (Athens), then? They played strong enough football to finish 3 points ahead of Olympiakos and collect one more title. 19 wins, 8 ties, 3 losses, 46-14 goal-difference. Two teams outscored them, but in terms of defending nobody came even close.
A Football Blog