Panathinaikos vs Olympiakos: Round 4 – Personal View

Round 4 of the 2019/2020 Greek Super League concluded with Panathinaikos and Olympiakos ending all-square, and thought I give my personal overview of the clash between the two sides. 

Before this clash, Olympiakos played their first group stage game in the UEFA Champions League against the hot and cold Tottenham Hotspur, where they earned a hard-fought point in what was an entertaining match and witnessed an Olympiakos side that never gave up when they trailed 0-2 to comeback and draw 2-2. Since Pedro Martins became manager, Olympiakos are very settled and with the team they have currently built, they will look to challenge Bayern and Red Star Belgrade in the coming games as well as this season’s league title. They were heading into the game with Panathinaikos in great form and having scored a total of 22 goals and conceded 3 goals from the league and UEFA Champions League means Olympiakos are not messing around.

Their eternal rivals, Panathinaikos – what can I say – after witnessing their activity in the transfer window, I have been questioning lately why the sudden change in signing foreigners. I really thought the club would stick to nurturing their young talent but have abandoned that program. Anyways, they had a good pre-season, but that form clearly has not emulated into the league season where they have suffered humiliating defeats to OFI and Aris, and a draw to Lamia. Abysmal. Disastrous. Embarrassing. I will tell you, some of the selections in the starting line-ups have been questionable – or to say the least - shambolic by Donis. I don’t want to name the selections, but I do know for sure they have clearly not worked at all!

Moving on, It’s round 4 and regardless of their positions on the league table, this rivalry will always make the headlines in Greece, known for their success and hatred for each other from both set of fans. No love is shown. This is a game where you expected a rampaging Olympiakos to take the 3 points and Panathinaikos to suffer yet another defeat. This is what everyone predicted before the clash, until watching the game, I saw two completely different teams to what their current forms showed. 

I saw a Panathinaikos side who were confident and motivated, who seemed to have put that embarrassing 4-0 away loss to Aris behind them and placed their focus on this game in which they applied the pressure against their rivals. Speaking of Olympiakos, I’m not too sure what happened within the 4 days after the match with Tottenham, half of the players were sluggish and found it difficult due to the pressure from the Greens.

Furthermore, both sides were battling and fought hard to break the deadlock, until Tsimikas whipped in a cross that skimmed off Schenkeveld’s head and fell onto Guerrero, who superbly struck the ball into the net and put Olympiakos in the lead. That is now 9 goals Panathinaikos have conceded in just 4 games.

The Greens had to find a way to hit back and recover from the game, when their luck turned gold earning a penalty thanks to a clumsy challenge from Ruben Semedo on Perea. A big opportunity and all at the hands of Federico Macheda, but resulted in a very poorly taken spot kick by the Italian which Olympiakos goalkeeper Jose Sa saved and parried it away for a corner. That was until the VAR officially confirmed it was a clean save by Jose Sa after the referee called for the penalty to be retaken who initially thought the goalkeeper went off his line, thus at moments like this shows its importance of the VAR system.

Furthermore into the game, Panathinaikos pushed more but clearly lacked the attacking quality in the final third, searching and searching for an opportunity to salvage a point. Olympiakos were hanging in the balance of the game and tried everything to secure the win, until in the last moments the Greens earned another penalty when Yassine Meriah lost his brain and brought down Macheda in the box. 

New signing originating from France, Yohan Mollo, who moments before the penalty came on as a substitute, stepped up and superbly converted from the spot. That was Panathinaikos’ 3rdgoal of season and all have come from the penalty spot and so far continues the teams drought of scoring goals from open play.

The game finished all-square, despite the overwhelming atmosphere in the crowd due to the absence of Panathinaikos Gate 13 Ultras protesting, the Greens put up a fight against their enemies and fought hard until the end. In my view, it is a great response from last round’s humiliating defeat to Aris and should undoubtedly be the wakeup call for Donis and the team to perform better in the upcoming games. 

Both teams would have loved a win, though it is Olympiakos who did not take advantage to secure their lead that would have placed them in 1st position on 12 points on the league table. Now they are equal on points with PAOK respectively – 10 points.

With Panathinaikos sitting 12th position with 2 points, and with the squad they have - should not be anywhere near the bottom and it is now challenging times for the Greens. As I previously mentioned, Panathinaikos must step it up and should see this result against Olympiakos as a wakeup call.Their next game is against last placed Panionios at NeaSmyrni, whereas Olympiakos will be hungry for the 3 pointsafter that poor performance against the Greens as they willverse Lamia in the next round at home.

Interesting times ahead.

By Michael