Under the heavy shadow of the loss of the emblematic “General” Mimis Domazos, Panathinaikos continued its undefeated run during the days of Rui Vitoria in domestic competitions. The Greens also passed from G. Karaiskakis Stadium unscathed, remaining on the track to claim the championship.

The final 1-1 against Olympiacos obviously does not satisfy the Greens, but it reveals the unyielding character of the team, as for the fourth consecutive derby and for the 14th match in the championship and the Greek Cup with the Portuguese coach on the bench, remains undefeated!

At the same time, the Greens remained undefeated in the derby against Olympiacos for the ninth consecutive game, while in 16 of the last 17 matches with the team from Piraeus in all competitions they have emerged unscathed with a record of six wins, ten draws and just one defeat in the infamous 2023 play-off derby…

However, the match did not start well for Panathinaikos, who found themselves behind in the score before the first quarter was complete. In the 14th minute, Rodinei committed a foul and Carmo pushed the ball into the net, opening the score for the home team (1-0).

The Greens woke up and started to take action on the field, while also creating the first threatening situations in Olympiacos’ area. In the 27th minute, Ioannidis and in the 29th minute, Bakasetas tried to score with shots, but Tzolakis fell to the right corner and blocked both times.

The numerical balance changed in the 43rd minute, when Djuricic made an amazing “sting” of the ball. He avoided Retsos and came out alone against Tzolakis and in an obvious position to score. Costinha knocked him down just outside the penalty area and Vinčić, who initially received a yellow card, was called by VAR, conducted an on-field review and correctly sent off Olympiacos’ defender.

In the ensuing free kick, Mladenović sent the ball (which also hit the “red and white” wall) just wide, while then, after a corner kick from Bakasetas, Djuričić shot just wide, leaving the score at 1-0 at the end of the 45th minute.

The second half began with a double substitution for the Greens as Kotsiras and Ounahi replaced Vagiannidis and Maksimović. The Clover took control of the match and in the 47th minute threatened with a shot by Bakasetas, which was blocked by Tzolakis. In the 61st minute, Tete replaced Djuricic in an attempt to make the team even more aggressive. Against the flow of the match, Olympiacos found an opportunity in the 65th minute from a free kick by Mouzakitis. However, Dragowski was on hand to make a decisive intervention.

As time passed, the Greens became increasingly pressing in search of the goal, which they found in the 74th minute. Panathinaikos’ players circulated the ball nicely. Ounahi collaborated wonderfully with Ioannidis, who carried the ball, entered the area and was knocked down by Carmo. Initially, referee Vinčić did not award the penalty, but was notified by VAR, conducted an on-field review and saw the violation. Ioannidis set the ball on the white spot, executed it accurately and equalized (1-1) scoring for the second consecutive derby at G. Karaiskakis after last year’s 1-3.

The Greens looked for the goal of the upset, but they could not find it until the end, while they finished the game with ten men due to the expulsion (with a second yellow card) of Ingason in the 94th minute.

The Greens wore black armbands as a sign of mourning, while before the kick-off a minute of silence was observed in memory of the unsurpassed Mimis Domazos.

Olympiacos: Tzolakis, Costinha, Retsos, Carmo, Ortega, Hezze, Mouzakitis, Chiquinho (76’ Kostoulas), Martins (46’ Garcia), Rodinei, El Kaabi (87’ Yaremchuk).

Panathinaikos: Dragowski, Vagiannidis (46’ Kotsiras), Mladenovic, Palmer Brown, Ingason, Arao, Maksimovic (46’ Ounahi), Bakasetas (69’ Jeremejeff), Ioannidis, Pellistri (83’ Limnios), Djuricic (61’ Tete).