Greece captain Tasos Bakasetas gives hosts deserved lead
Petros Mantalos pounces on Caoimhin Kelleher error to score Greece's second
Greece have now beaten the Republic of Ireland four times in the past 16 months
FT: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
That is all from us as the Republic of Ireland fall to their third defeat in four games under Heimir Hallgrimsson after a tough night in Athens, which sets up a big November for the Irish.
You can read Matt Gault's report from the game here.
We will have more reaction on the BBC Sport website.
Thanks for joining us - goodnight.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Here is some more from Hallgrimsson on RTE: "I thought even though they were better first half, we stayed in the game and didn't concede a goal. I think the structure helped.
"We know we can do better- we saw that in the second half.
"It's just to go and grab that belief in each other, in the team and start again with this belief that we had in the second half and with the intensity, pressing, playing forward and getting the ball in the box. That is our entity."
FT: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson speaking to RTE:
"It kind of feels like once we concede a goal, the pressure is kind of gone so we start to have more belief in what we are doing. It was the same against Finland.
"I thought after the goal we grew into the game, there was more belief in the passing, playing forward and pressing. We said before the game that we knew there was a wave coming at us and the atmosphere was like that."
FT: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Richie Sadlier
Former Republic of Ireland striker on RTE Sport
For all the joy and hype of winning a game the other night the reality now after that result is the game against Finland next month is to decide who finishes fourth.
If we avoid defeat, it won't be us and we'll be in a play-off to stay in the group. We can't afford to lose that Finland game.
FT: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Stephen Kelly
Former Republic of Ireland defender on RTE
The resilience and doggedness that we showed in the first half are parts of our game that we have to have for 90 minutes to be successful. That's what we built our foundations on in the past.
FT: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Greece dedicated their win in Athens to the late George Baldock, holding aloft his shirt at the end of the game.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland midfielder Josh Cullen speaking to RTE:
"After them scoring so early in the second half, from that point on I thought we were the team that looked more likely [to score] and I thought we got more control in the game.
"I don't think the first half was good enough from us, but we tweaked things at half-time and it's just disappointing to concede so quickly after half-time. I think the boys showed great courage and bravery to come back and lift the performance again.
"Ultimately it wasn't quite enough in the end."
FT: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
A frustrating night for Heimir Hallgrimsson's side as they remain third in the group with three points.
They need results in the November window to avoid the prospect of a relegation play-off.
They welcome the Finns to Dublin before finishing with a trip to Wembley.
Image source, Inpho
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Richie Sadlier
Former Republic of Ireland striker on RTE Sport
If you're looking at the progress of the team, the impact of the manager and the coaching staff or if you want to see what sort of personality is emerging from this team there were loads of things tonight when you would think 'we're onto something here.'
Huge amount of resilience, doggedness, concentration in the first half and composure in the second half.
FT: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Ray Houghton
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on RTE
The Irish players really got together as a group, pushed forward and caused the Greeks a few problems. They had one or two half chances that they could have done a bit better with, but my heart goes out to Kelleher, I thought he was outstanding throughout and then that mistake at the end, he didn't deserve that.
FT: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
A mistake from Caoimhin Kelleher, who had been superb on the night, gifted Petros Mantalos Greece's late second goal in Athens.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesGreece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland pushed hard, but they come away from Athens with nothing.
Captain Tasos Bakasetas opened the scoring with a deflected effort before Petros Mantalos was gifted a late second as Greece made it four wins from four to stay top of the Nations League.
It was a frustrating night for the Republic, who played well in spells but were unable to take home a point.
Image source, InphoGreece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Ray Houghton
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on RTE
After doing so well throughout the game Kelleher. Just clear your lines - when are the Republic of Ireland players going to learn that you can't always play out from the back and sometimes you have got to play the ball downfield. It was not once but twice that players could have done that there.
Petros Mantalos - 92mins
Game, set and match now and a horrible error from Caoimhin Kelleher.
The goalkeeper comes out with the ball, but his attempt at a pass to a teammate is poor and substitute Petros Mantalos latches onto the loose ball, before slotting home.
Another avoidable goal conceded by the Republic in this campaign.
Image source, BBC SportGreece goal
Greece 1-0 Republic of Ireland
There will be just three minutes additional time as Dimitris Pelkas thrashes over after latching onto a loose pass from Liam Scales.
Greece 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Ray Houghton
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on RTE
He's had two great opportunities Jack Taylor. No one is picking him up and it's poor.
Greece 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Jack Taylor goes close again for the Republic of Ireland with two quickfire chances.
Robbie Brady floats in a corner to the unmarked midfielder, and his half volley is blocked by Ntinos Mavrapanos, before his follow-up effort is gathered by Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Greece 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Ray Houghton
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on RTE
There is still six minutes left of the 90 plus the added on time and it's just can the Republic of Ireland create one golden opportunity to get them back in the game?
The attitude has been much better since they went a goal behind from the Irish players.
Greece 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Two more changes for Greece as Christos Tzolis and Dimitris Kourbelis go off to be replaced by Petros Mantalos and Kostas Tsimikas as they look to hold on.
Dara O'Shea is off for Kasey McAteer in another attacking change for the Republic of Ireland, who are desperate to find an equaliser.
Greece 1-0 Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland are enjoying a sustained period of possession as they look to be patient to fashion an opening.
Josh Cullen picks out the run of Jack Taylor and he gets to the byline and cuts the ball back, but frustratingly there is no one in the box to get on the end of it.
Tasos Bakasetas held out a black armband in tribute to George Baldock after scoring Greece's opener
The Republic of Ireland suffered a third defeat in four games under manager Heimir Hallgrimsson as Greece ran out deserved winners in Sunday's Nations League Group B2 tussle in Athens.
Having returned to winning ways in dramatic fashion against Finland on Thursday, the Republic of Ireland were humbled as Greece captain Tasos Bakasetas struck early in the second half before Petros Mantalos pounced on a Caoimhin Kelleher mistake to wrap up the home side's win late on.
It was a disappointing end to the night for Kelleher, who had been outstanding for the visitors, making a string of saves to shut out the dominant hosts in the first half.
While Greece remain three points clear of England, who beat strugglers Finland earlier on Sunday, a third loss leaves the Irish in third place and facing the prospect of a relegation play-off with two games left.
The Greeks host England and travel to Finland next month while the Republic of Ireland welcome the Finns to Dublin before finishing with a trip to Wembley.
Buoyed by a much-needed win in Helsinki on Thursday, the Republic of Ireland started brightly and could have been ahead inside four minutes.
However, after a mix-up in the Greek defence as they tried to clear their lines, Evan Ferguson fired wide from the edge of the area while being challenged by Lazaros Rota.
From there, though, the visitors retreated in the face of sustained pressure from Greece, who played with great courage and endeavour in an emotionally charged first home game since the death of their defender George Baldock, for whom a minute's silence was observed prior to kick-off.
Indeed, the Greeks would have had the result wrapped up before half-time had it not been for Kelleher.
First, the Liverpool goalkeeper kept out Giorgos Masouras' volley at his near post before thwarting Bakasetas after the Greece captain breezed past Liam Scales on the edge of the Irish box.
With the Republic of Ireland unable to find joy on the counter-attack, Greece continued to press for an opener with Kelleher again standing firm to turn away Dimitrios Giannoulis' shot with his foot after the left-back was picked out by Christos Tzolis.
Republic of Ireland debutant Jack Taylor was twice denied an equaliser
In Helsinki on Thursday, the Republic of Ireland scored inside the first 15 minutes of the second half to draw level before going on to win.
This time they fell behind three minutes after the interval as Bakasetas struck.
The home side's skipper benefited as his right-footed shot spun off Scales and went past Kelleher, prompting a huge roar from the raucous crowd.
Given the emotions they have grappled with and the huge effort it took to beat England at Wembley on Thursday, it perhaps wasn't surprising that Greece's intensity waned as the second half wore on.
And their fatigue coupled with the introduction of Festy Ebosele and Jack Taylor offered the Republic of Ireland fresh impetus, with Taylor denied a debut goal when his header was flicked over by Odisseas Vlachodimos.
The Republic of Ireland's only other clear opening also fell to Taylor but the Ipswich midfielder was unable to trouble the Greek keeper after a Robbie Brady corner reached him.
Then the away side's hopes of rescuing a point late on were shattered by Kelleher's lapse in concentration, with the 25-year-old passing straight to Greece substitute Mantalos, who rounded the keeper and fired into the unguarded Irish goal.
It was another soft goal from an Irish perspective after captain Nathan Collins gifted Finland an opener on Thursday.
But unlike in Helsinki, there would be no way back for Hallgrimsson's men, who were left to reflect on a fourth defeat by Greece in the space of 16 months.
Greece, meanwhile, have boosted their bid for promotion to the top tier of the Nations League, their players holding up a shirt bearing Baldock's name at full-time on another night when they battled through emotion to deliver three points.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 |
| |
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | Israel | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 7 |
| |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 2 |
| |
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | Estonia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
|
| 4 | Azerbaijan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| |
| 2 | Kosovo | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
|
| 3 | Cyprus | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 3 |
|
| 4 | Lithuania | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belarus | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
|
| 2 | Bulgaria | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
|
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | Luxembourg | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| |
| 2 | Armenia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 4 |
|
| 3 | Latvia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 4 |
|
| 4 | Faroe Islands | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gibraltar | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
|
| 2 | San Marino | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
|
| 3 | Liechtenstein | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moldova | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
|
| 2 | Malta | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
|
| 3 | Andorra | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 12 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 3 |
| |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 0 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| |
| 4 | Kazakhstan | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 1 |
|
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 4 | Montenegro | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
|
Manager: Ivan Jovanovic
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Heimir Hallgrímsson
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Ivan Jovanovic
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Heimir Hallgrímsson
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
UEFA Nations League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Greece are unbeaten in their six previous games against the Republic of Ireland, keeping five clean sheets across those matches (W5 D1).
Republic of Ireland are winless in their six previous meetings with Greece (D1 L5), losing the last four in a row – only against Italy have the Boys in Green ever lost more consecutive games (6 between 1926 and 1992).
Greece have lost just one of their last 12 home matches across all competitions (W8 D3) and are unbeaten in each of their last four on home soil (W3 D1) since a 0-1 defeat to Netherlands in a European Championship qualifier in October 2023.
Republic of Ireland won their first ever UEFA Nations League away match last time out (2-1 v Finland) and are looking to win back-to-back matches on the road across all competitions for the first time since November 2021 when they recorded wins against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.
Greece have won each of their last four matches, keeping a clean sheet in three of those, and could make it five wins on the trot across all competitions for the first time since October 2016.
Republic of Ireland have won just four of their last 14 competitive matches, losing nine and drawing the other. They did however win last time out (2-1 v Finland) and are looking to win consecutive competitive matches for the first time since March 2019 when they beat Gibraltar and Georgia, both by a 1-0 scoreline.
Anastasios Bakasetas has been directly involved in 44% of all of Greece’s goals in the UEFA Nations League (12/27), scoring five and providing seven assists in his 20 matches. He has provided four assists in his last four appearances in the competition.
Robbie Brady has been directly involved in more goals for the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League than any other player (5 – 2 goals, 3 assists), with Brady both scoring and providing an assist in the Boys in Green’s last match in the competition (2-1 v Finland).
