Opening wins for Greece's big guns

Papadopoulos at the double
Ezequiel González volleyed the first goal after 34 minutes, from a cross by Rudolf Skacel. The Czech midfield player provided another assist nine minutes later as Dimitris Papadopoulos doubled Panathinaikos's lead. Papadopoulos struck again after 50 minutes but spurned the chance of a hat-trick when he missed a late penalty.

Anatolakis winner
Olympiacos CFP also started with a win as they beat Kallithea FC 2-1 in the first game at their new Georgios Karaiskakis stadium. In front of 33,000 fans, Ioannis Okkas headed Olympiacos in front in the 17th minute and although Kallithea equalised before the break through Ioannis Gekas, Georgios Anatolakis restored their advantage with a left-footed strike in the second period.

AEK earn draw
A header from Nikos Lyberopoulos on 59 minutes earned AEK Athens FC a 1-1 draw at Egaleo FC. The home side had taken the lead just two minutes earlier through a spectacular drive from Georgios Fotakis. Meanwhile, Christos Maladenis's 52nd-minute header earned FC PAOK a hard-fought victory over Kerkira FC, who were playing their first game in Greece's top flight.

Happy returns
If Kerkira were making history despite their defeat, it was also a day to celebrate for Apollon Kalamarias FC who marked their return to the top flight after ten years with a 1-0 win against OFI Crete. Wellington Gonçalves was the hero with a fine individual goal after ten minutes, though Kalamarias had to survive for 22 minutes with only ten men after Nikos Arvanitis's dismissal.

Ergotelis beaten
It also finished 1-0 in the match between Halkidona FC and Panionios NFC, with Giorgos Zaharopoulos scoring the only goal from the penalty spot after eleven minutes. In the new Pankritio stadium in Heraklio, meanwhile, newly promoted Ergotelis FC went down 1-0 to Iraklis FC, for whom Edwin Muratti scored the 71st-minute winner.

Winning start
Xanthi FC had better luck in their new Pigadion stadium as they beat Aris Thessaloniki FC 3-1 with goals from Petros Dimitriadis, Deniz Baikara and Stavros Lambriakos.