Madness Hits 'Derby of the Eternal Enemies' Between Panathinaikos, Olympiacos

When the actual football was played on Sunday between Greece's two fiercest rivals, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, Panathinaikos emerged victorious 2-1 on their home ground.

But the football was hardly the story, as it occasionally gets shifted into the background in the Derby of the Eternal Enemies.

Wild, wild scenes came out of the match, prompting Olympiacos president Evangelos Marinakis to brand the match (per the Mirror) "an atrocity for Greek football."  

Olympiacos manager Vitor Pereira did his typical pre-match routine of touching each net for luck, but the home support became enraged and charged the pitch. A chair can be seen being thrown at the Olympiacos boss. 

Similarly, when the visitors took the pitch at the Stadio Apostolos Nikolaidis, flares and other debris were thrown at the players who had to retreat back into the tunnel, delaying kick-off for 15 minutes. 

Yorgos Karahalis/Associated Press

"

Incredible photo from this weekend's Greek derby between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos: pic.twitter.com/UultxVZoJp

— Natter Football (@NATTERFOOTBALL) February 23, 2015"

"

Y ayer se termino el carnaval(Foto del Panathinaikos vs Olympiakos 22/02/2015) #NoPyroNoParty pic.twitter.com/ca12MQQwjf

— Fran Central Element (@FranRMCFLad) February 23, 2015"

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Panathinaikos-Olympiacos 22.02.2015. pic.twitter.com/s3NCqqrEGG

— It's an ultra life (@itsultralife01) February 23, 2015"

Marinakis went on to describe the scene, per the same Mirror report. 

"

What we saw out there I don't think I could have ever imagined. 

Our players cannot play well in these conditions and are heroes. It is an unprecedented situation. 

I saw the players. Some are beaten, others are upset, others are shocked. 

We did not come for war, we came to play football. 

"

[Mirror]