Assessing that you can rather build a team than buy it, Panathinaikos can feel to be on the right path: Talented players continue to come from the Academy with very encouraging signs. Further to the “test” at the derby against the “eternal rival” another duel was to follow in Toumba. Sotiris Alexandropoulos and Vassilis Zagaritis, two 19 year old players who were debuting with the first team, did a great job promising that the “Greens” can expect and gain a lot from them in the near future. The final score 0-0 against PAOK is the smallest benefit for Panathinaikos; the biggest one is that the new generation shows that a worthy team can be “built” with them.
Panathinaikos blocked the team of PAOK thanks to the running and the tactical devotion of its players. The Shamrock was overwhelmingly better during 60 minutes, closed the space toward Dioudis’ goalposts, created nice chances and even better ones to score – targetless, though. Once again some details needed for scoring and putting the “Greens” in a leading position, also due to their good defensive functions, were missing.
The Green team has had very good moments with Bouzoukis and Kampetsis in the first half and with Macheda and Theocharis in the second one. More chances would have been created with a better final passing or a more precise ball passing, mainly by Alexandropoulos. The Athenian team threatened its rival firstly in the 55th minute and then during additional time.
PAOK: Paschalakis, Ingasson, Varela, Michailidis, El Kadouri (82’ Tsiggaras), Mauricio, Rodrigo (82’ Matos), Yiannoulis, Biseswar (62’ Stock), Tzolis (62’ Limnios), Akpom (73’ Swiderski).
Panathinaikos: Dioudis, Theocharis, Zagaritis (81’ Beck), Schenkeveld, Kolovetsios, Chatzitheodoridis, Alexandropoulos (81’ Κolovos), Anuar, Bouzoukis (79’ Perea), Macheda (81’ Serpezis), Kampetsis (65’ Chatziyiovanis).
