Panathinaikos drew 0–0 with Panetolikos in the 25th round of the Stoiximan Super League. Despite the many chances created by the Greens, especially in the second half, they were unable to find the back of the net, bringing an end to the team’s winning streak in the league. The Clover now turns its attention to the big return leg next Thursday against Betis in Seville, where it will fight for a historic qualification to the Europa League quarterfinals.
Panathinaikos, who lined up at Leoforos with complete squad rotation, threatened for the first time in the 10th minute with a sudden long diagonal shot by Pantelidis that forced an impressive save from Kucherenko. In the continuation of the play, Andino received the ball and fired a powerful shot but failed to score as defenders blocked the attempt. The visitors tried to become dangerous in the 27th minute with a shot by Rosa that deflected off Hernandez and in the 45th minute with an off-target attempt by Matan.
The Greens started the second half strongly and, after a penalty was not awarded in the 46th minute for a pull by Bouchalakis on Djuricic inside the area, they immediately threatened. In the 47th minute, after a cross from Andino to the far post, Pantelidis headed the ball back across goal but it was cleared at the last moment by Panetolikos defenders before it could reach Swiderski. The visitors responded with a shot from Esteban in the 51st minute, but Kotsaris was alert.
Panathinaikos increased the tempo and applied heavy pressure searching for the goal, coming close through a series of dangerous situations inside the Panetolikos box: in the 57th minute with Pantelidis, in the 65th with Jagusic, in the 68th with Swiderski, in the 74th with Djuricic, in the 80th with Vilhena, in the 83rd again with Jagusic and in the 88th once more with Vilhena. However, in five of the seven attempts, the Panetolikos goalkeeper made crucial saves, essentially preserving the 0–0 until the end.
Panathinaikos: Kotsaris, Toumba, Katris, Hernandez, Zaroury, Kontouris (76’ Vilhena), Sissoko, Pantelidis (63’ Jagusic), Andino (63’ Chirivella), Djuricic (76’ Siopis), Swiderski (81’ Pantovic).
Panetolikos: Kucherenko, Granath, Kojic, Mavrias, Apostolopoulos, Bouchalakis, Esteban (78’ Bregu), Matan (90’ Michalak), Lobato (72’ Aleksic), Rosa (78’ Satsias), Aguirre (72’ Garcia).
