Panathinaikos struggled to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities, while Olympiacos displayed superiority in the second half, claiming a 1-0 victory in the league’s concluding match. El Kaabi scored his first goal against the Greens, complemented by a standout performance from Tzolakis—marking Vitória’s first home defeat.
Match Overview
Rui Vitória deployed his typical 4-3-3 formation. With Pellistri and Djuricic unavailable, Limnios was chosen for the left wing. Dragowski was in goal, backed by a defense of Ingason, Palmer-Brown, Vagiannidis, and Mladenovic. Cerin held down the “6” position, supported by Maksimovic and Unai in midfield. Tetteh occupied the right wing while Swiderski took the striker role.
José Luis Mendilibar opted for a 4-4-2 formation featuring two strikers. Tzolakis was the goalkeeper, with Pirola and Biankon in central defense, Costinha on the right, and Ortega on the left. The midfield included Garcia and Mouzakitis, while Tiquinho and Palma flanked the forwards El Kaabi and Yaremchuk.
Slow Start and Missed Chances
The initial fifteen minutes produced minimal excitement, lacking significant scoring threats as both teams failed to generate real shots on goal.
Panathinaikos gradually intensified their play, focusing on pressure from the right through the combination of Unai, Tetteh, and Vagiannidis, who created multiple scoring opportunities.
Despite three dangerous moments from Vagiannidis—one poorly executed touch in the box, an errant cross, and a blocked shot from Swiderski—Panathinaikos couldn’t convert.
Olympiacos responded with a shot from Garcia, which Dragowski expertly saved. Following a counter, Tetteh laid off for Unai, whose shot also met a spectacular reaction save from Tzolakis.
In the 43rd minute, Panathinaikos mounted their best opportunity: Vagiannidis made a fantastic run and cross, but Unai’s strike soared over the goalpost.
Second Half Dynamics
Panathinaikos’s intensity carried into the second half, nearly scoring after Swiderski hit the post in the 51st minute—his shot deflected off Pirola, narrowly missing the goal.
Another chance for Panathinaikos came when Cerin’s shot from inside the box went astray.
Tetteh broke free in the 56th minute, controlling the ball beautifully but missing his shot just wide after an unchallenged run into the box.
Against the run of play, a penalty was awarded to Olympiacos when Ingason fouled Yaremchuk. El Kaabi converted the penalty, boosting his league tally to 18 goals.
Taking advantage of their lead, Olympiacos countered effectively, coming close again with El Kaabi, but Dragowski thwarted his attempt.
Olympiacos continued to threaten, with Yaremchuk making an impressive solo effort in the 76th minute, though Dragowski was able to handle the attempt.
Final Substitutions
Despite Olympiacos’s momentum, Rui Vitória made a triple substitution, bringing on Zeca, Magnusson, and Kotsiras. Zeca played in his final match, while Magnusson likely bid farewell as well.
Panathinaikos nearly equalized in the 85th minute as Tzolakis made a stunning save with his head, blocking Jeremejeff’s shot from a Swiderski cross.
No further chances materialized, with Panathinaikos protesting a potential penalty for a challenge on Unai in injury time.
MVP:
Tzolakis was crucial for Olympiacos, keeping the score level with key saves before El Kaabi’s penalty, including a highlight stop on Unai’s effort in the first half.
Key Performers:
Vagiannidis and Unai shone for Panathinaikos, frequently combining and challenging the Olympiacos defense.
Weakest Performer:
Limnios struggled on the left wing, failing to make significant impact or synergy with Mladenovic due to playing out of position.
Critical Error:
Ingason’s miscalculation in the penalty incident was costly, as he fouled Yaremchuk trying to win the ball.
Referee Performance:
Treimanis’s officiating was inconsistent, affecting both teams’ rhythm with missed calls, including a penalty that VAR corrected, and ignored appeals for a similar foul against Unai in stoppage time.
Conclusion:
Panathinaikos performed better leading up to the 60th minute but faded after conceding. Both teams had opportunities but failed to capitalize on them beyond the penalty goal.
Lineups:
Panathinaikos (coach Rui Vitória):
Dragowski, Ingason, Palmer-Brown (78′ Magnusson), Vagiannidis (78′ Kotsiras), Mladenovic, Cerin, Maksimovic (78′ Zeca), Unai, Tetteh, Limnios (68′ Jeremejeff), Swiderski
Olympiacos (coach José Luis Mendilibar):
Tzolakis, Pirola, Biankon, Costinha, Ortega (62′ Bruno), Mouzakitis, Garcia (62′ Esse), Tiquinho (86′ Stamenic), Palma (62′ Rodinei), Yaremchuk (86′ Yaremchuk), El Kaabi
Ask me anything
Explore related questions
