The Rafa Benítez era at Panathinaikos began with a comfortable victory. The Greens completely dominated Asteras Tripolis at Leoforos from the first to the last minute and deservedly won 2-0.
With a solid and focused performance, the players of the Shamrock left behind the negative results against Aris and Feyenoord, showing positive signs in their game. They demonstrated their desire for a fresh start under the guidance of the Spanish coach, and the team’s overall image was highly encouraging.
The match was decided by a goal from Swiderski — who found the net for the third straight game, reaching seven goals for the season — and an own goal by Tzico, while Panathinaikos could have achieved an even wider victory.
The Greens took control from the very start. In the 5th minute, after quick ball movement, Djuricic combined with Tete, who backheeled for Cerin, but his shot went straight into Papadopoulos’s hands. Another good chance came in the 16th minute after a fine cross by Kotsiras — both Zaroury and Cerin had shots blocked.
An even greater opportunity arrived in the 18th minute after a brilliant 30-meter pass from Chirivella to Swiderski, who went one-on-one with Papadopoulos, but under pressure from Triantafyllopoulos, his left-footed shot went just wide.
Panathinaikos maintained total control and pressed relentlessly. In the 38th minute, from a Cerin corner, Djuricic’s close-range shot was cleared off the line by Alho.
In stoppage time of the first half, Swiderski’s header was saved by Papadopoulos, while another from Djuricic went just wide. VAR intervened for a clear shirt pull by Fernández on Swiderski inside the box. The referee awarded a penalty, and the Polish striker calmly converted it, giving Panathinaikos a well-deserved 1-0 lead — having dominated with 11-0 shots and 68-32% possession.
The second half began with many interruptions due to injuries. In the 60th minute, Kyriakopoulos tried a long shot that Papadopoulos saved. Asteras recorded its first attempt at goal in the 63rd minute through Emmanouilidis, but his shot went wide.
Panathinaikos doubled their lead in the 68th minute when, after a superb Cerin free kick, Tzico accidentally sent the ball into his own net, making it 2-0. The Greens controlled the match comfortably until the end and nearly added a third in the 88th minute when Pantović’s header from Kotsiras’ cross went just wide.
The final whistle found Rafa Benítez and his players celebrating their first win, with the fans of Leoforos applauding warmly.
Panathinaikos: Dragowski, Calabria (11’ Kotsiras), Kyriakopoulos (82’ Mladenovic), Ingason, Toumba, Chirivella, Cerin (83’ Siopis), Duricic, Tete, Zaroury (65’ Renato Sanches), Swiderski (65’ Pantovic).
Asteras: Papadopoulos, Ivanov, Triantafyllopoulos, Fernández, Alho (55’ Pomonis), Jablonski, Tzico (76’ Mendieta), Bartolo (76’ Mumo), Ketou, Emmanouilidis (67’ Gioacchini), Makenda.
* Lucian Sanmartean returned to Leoforos after two decades and was honored by Panathinaikos through Takis Fyssas, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.
