Galatasaray sealed first place in Europa League Group F as Mustafa Sarp's strike earned them a deserved victory over Panathinaikos.

The Brazilian put through his own net early in the second half to leave the Greeks to head into their final pool game at home Dinamo Bucharest not yet assured of their place in the last 32.

Pana's fate is still very much in their own hands, however, as they have a three-point lead over the Romanians.

The visitors went into the game looking to avoid a repeat of a 3-1 home defeat they suffered to the Turks in September, but it was Frank Rijkaard's men, was place in the knockout stage was already guaranteed, who started the stronger.

Elano's 10th-minute shot from the centre of the area from Arda Turan's cross was fumbled by keeper Alexandros Tzorvas, but Pana survived.

Josu Sarriegi then had to be alert to clear Arda's inswinging corner from the left at the near post before the Greeks had their first chance of note after 37 minutes.

Giorgos Karagounis' corner picked out Ante Rukavina, whose weak header failed to trouble Leo Franco in the home goal.

That was a rare moment of promise for the visitors in the first half, though, and Gala soon came back at them.

Baris Ozbek drilled a shot wide of the left post before, two minutes before half-time, Harry Kewell failed to get a proper connection on his header from Sabri Sarioglu's cross when well placed, only managing to direct it over the top.

And the hosts were in front six minutes after the break.

Sarp placed a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from close range following Arda's free-kick from the Gala half.

Rijkaard's men had Franco to thank for keeping them in front in the 56th minute, though, as the keeper signed in the summer from Atletico Madrid brilliantly tipped Djibril Cisse's shot from a central position in the box round the post.

Gala continued to threaten at the other end, Abdul Kader Keita bringing a routine save out of Tzorvas with a shot from out on the right before firing wide from Arda's corner.

Cisse had another effort on target in the 83rd minute, but his drilled free-kick was comfortably dealt with by Franco as Gala guaranteed top spot.