Victories are always valuable during pre-season, helping players build confidence and develop a winning mentality. But defeats can prove just as beneficial. That was certainly the case as Panathinaikos fell 4-1 to Rapid Vienna in a 120-minute friendly match in the Austrian capital, with the extended format having been agreed upon in advance by both coaches.
In their final friendly before the UEFA Conference League qualifying ties against Paksi, the Greens received a timely reminder of the standards required. It is a lesson that will undoubtedly help the team improve and arrive better prepared and more effective for the start of the competitive campaign.
Regardless of the result on the pitch, the atmosphere in the stands was truly festive, as supporters of both clubs sat together, sang side by side and celebrated the 25th anniversary of the friendship between the two fan bases.
From a footballing perspective, Panathinaikos created the first chance of the match in the 9th minute when Adam Cerin fired narrowly wide. Rapid responded five minutes later by taking the lead. In the 14th minute, Tilio capitalized on a defensive lapse inside the Panathinaikos penalty area and finished clinically to make it 1-0. The same player came close again in the 18th minute, striking the left post from outside the box.
Panathinaikos nearly equalized a minute later after an excellent individual move by Elmin Rastoder inside the area. His cut-back found Taborda, whose close-range effort was brilliantly denied by the Rapid goalkeeper. Taborda had another excellent opportunity in the 36th minute following a fine combination with Zaroury, but once again the Austrian side’s goalkeeper came to the rescue.
Instead of finding the equalizer, Panathinaikos conceded twice against the run of play. In the 37th minute, Adamsen made it 2-0 with a close-range finish before Haidara beat the offside trap six minutes later and calmly slotted past Peña to extend Rapid’s led to 3-0.
The second half began with Panathinaikos playing with greater intensity and purpose. Cerin forced another excellent save in the 49th minute before further chances followed through Rastoder’s header in the 52nd minute, Taborda in the 59th, Rastoder again in the 62nd and Pantelidis in the 84th.
Yet once more, despite the Greens’ pressure, it was Rapid who found the net. In the 88th minute, Schaub scored directly from a corner kick to make it 4-0.
During the additional 30-minute period, Pantelidis first threatened with a shot in the 97th minute before scoring Panathinaikos’ consolation goal ten minutes later. Jagusic won possession and carried the ball forward before releasing Tetéi, whose clever no-look pass found the onrushing Pantelidis, who finished confidently.
Unfortunately, in the 112th minute, Sverrir Ingason was forced off through injury.
Panathinaikos: Peña (91′ Kotsaris), Tsapras (91′ Ioannou), Kyriakopoulos (91′ Biniaris), De Vrij (63′ Ingason, 114′ Vyntra), Touba (91′ Lavdas), Camara (80′ Kontouris), Cerin (74′ Chirivella), Zaroury (74′ Pantelidis), Andino (63′ Katris), Taborda (63′ Jagusic), Rastoder (63′ Tetteh).
