Panathinaikos produced a dominant performance in Serres, beating Panserraikos 3–0 for Matchday 11 of the Stoiximan Super League. Once the Greens stepped on the gas, they became unstoppable and secured an emphatic victory. They played magnificent football, scored three wonderful goals—highlighted by Tin Jedvaj’s incredible overhead kick—created numerous chances, and comfortably earned a valuable three points on their road to a major comeback.
Rafa Benítez’s players appeared affected by the international break, leading to problems early in the match. Panserraikos threatened in the 7th minute with a header by Nuneley that went wide, in the 13th with a close-range shot saved impressively by Lafont, and again in the 22nd with another effort cleared decisively by Mladenović. As time went on, the Greens found their rhythm and regained control. They threatened in the 32nd minute with Jedvaj and again in the 35th with a header from Palmer-Brown, before finally opening the scoring.
In the 40th minute, Tete produced a brilliant solo run, entered the box, and delivered a superb outside-of-the-foot cross to the arriving Zaroury, who finished in stride to make it 0–1. The first half ended with Panathinaikos leading, but losing two players to injury: Chirivella, replaced in the 42nd minute by Cerin, and Lafont, who was substituted at halftime after a collision with Karelis. His place was taken by Konstantinos Kotsaris, making his first official appearance for Panathinaikos since May 2019.
In the second half, the Greens came out storming from the very first second. In the 46th minute, Bakasetas fired a powerful shot saved in two attempts by Tinalini. A huge chance followed in the 48th minute with Cerin, denied by a spectacular save from Panserraikos’ goalkeeper, and another opportunity in the next minute with Pantovic, who was inches away from scoring. In the 51st minute, Bakasetas came close again with a deflected shot that went out for a corner, while in the 55th Jedvaj missed the target from a promising position.
But the Croatian defender succeeded in the most spectacular way in the 60th minute: Tete crossed from the right with his left foot, and Jedvaj scored the goal of the year with an unbelievable bicycle kick! He also scored for the second consecutive match, after his goal against PAOK at Leoforos. Panathinaikos’ attacking show continued, and in the 69th minute it was Bakasetas’ turn to score. After a neat sequence between Mladenovic and Pantovic, the Greens’ captain unleashed a strong right-footed strike, making it an impressive 0–3.
The Greens managed the remaining time excellently, and to preserve the clean sheet, Kotsaris made an important save in the 74th minute on a dangerous shot from De Marco. Giannis Bokos made his league debut for Panathinaikos, replacing Zaroury. The match ended with Panathinaikos’ players and Rafa Benítez celebrating with the traveling fans who filled the stands at the Serres Municipal Stadium.
Panserraikos: Tinalini, Lyratzis, Volney, De Marco, Kalinin (66’ Tsaousis), Brooks (57’ Galvan), Liasos, Green, Nuneley, Doiranlis (66’ Omoenga), Karelis (57’ Maras, 81’ Banzaki).
Panathinaikos: Lafont (46’ Kotsaris), Jedvaj, Mladenović, Palmer-Brown, Toumba, Siopis, Chirivella (42’ Cerin), Bakasetas, Tete (82’ Mancini), Zaroury (82’ Bokos), Pantovic (73’ Swiderski).
