Panathinaikos lost 3–2 to AEK at Leoforos, putting an end to the winning row they had built in recent weeks. The Greens, who played with ten footballers from the 64th minute due to Toumba’s red card, paid for their own mistakes during the match, as well as the mistakes of the refereeing team.
Nevertheless, they showed character, especially during the period when the team was down to ten players, coming back from 0–2 to 2–2. It’s a pity that this comeback did not result in a positive outcome…
The derby started with great intensity, passion and duels. The Greens created the first threatening moment in AEK’s box in the 12th minute, when Tete made a cross into the area and Zaroury shot immediately, but the ball deflected off Relvas’ leg and was cleared.
Against the run of play, AEK took the lead in the 16th minute with a header from Jovic after a cross by Rota. Panathinaikos responded immediately and found a big chance to equalize. After an excellent individual effort, Tete was fouled inside the box by Pilios and, after VAR intervention and an on-field review, the referee awarded the obvious penalty. However, Swiderski’s shot was saved by Strakosha in the 28th minute.
In the 35th minute Panathinaikos tried to threaten with a header from Palmer-Brown, while in the 41st minute there were strong protests from the Greens for a handball by Relvas in the box. But neither the referee nor the VAR saw the infringement.
Instead, in the 45th minute a penalty was awarded to AEK in a ball challenge between Toumba and Jovic, after the Algerian defender cleared the ball. Instead of a corner, a penalty was given, which Jovic converted in the 45+2 minute, making it 0–2 at the end of the first half.
Panathinaikos’ players pressed hard looking for a goal to get them back into the match, and in the 62nd minute Rafa Benitez made a triple substitution, bringing on Cerin, Djuricic and Pantovic while also switching the formation to a back four.
However, the numerical balance changed quickly, as did the Spaniard’s game plan, since Toumba was sent off with a second yellow card in the 64th minute. Despite the disadvantage, the Greens reacted, kept control of the game and reduced the score in the 71st minute with a header by Tete after a cross from Zaroury.
In the 76th minute Panathinaikos came close to equalizing with a first-time shot by Cerin that went just wide, while in the 85th minute AEK also went down to ten players due to Marin being sent off with a second yellow. The Greens kept pushing for the equalizer, which they finally achieved in the 90th minute. The ball moved wonderfully, Jedvaj passed to Pantovic, who laid it off first-time to Djuricic, and with a brilliant shot just outside the box, he made it 2–2.
Although the Greens had momentum on their side, another defensive miscommunication turned everything upside down. Koita was fouled inside the box by Dragowski, and in the 92nd minute Jovic scored again from the penalty spot, making the final score 2–3.
Panathinaikos: Dragowski, Palmer-Brown, Toumba, Jedvaj, Calabria (62’ Cerin), Zaroury, Chirivella (86’ Dessers), Siopis (75’ Kotsiras), Bakasetas (62’ Djuricic), Tete, Swiderski (62’ Pantovic).
AEK: Strakosha, Rota, Pilios (46’ Pereira), Mukudi, Relvas, Pineda, Mantalos (46’ Marin), Joao Mario (80’ Pereira), Gacinovic (90+4’ Grujic), Kaloskamis (62’ Koita), Jovic.
