Despite showing some effort, Panathinaikos ended their second friendly match on Austrian soil with a 0-0 draw against Cyprus Cup winner, Paphos. The team faced many absences, affecting their overall performance.
Diego Alonso’s Panathinaikos lineup featured Dragovski as the goalkeeper, with Kotsiras and Vagiannidis as the left and right backs, respectively. Gedvai and Senkefeld served as the central defenders. The midfield duo consisted of Arao and Vilena, while Mancini and Limnios played as the left and right-wingers. Djurisic was positioned as the attacking midfielder, and Geremegev led the attack. At 22 minutes, Zeka replaced Gedvai, prompting Arao to shift to central defense in Alonso’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
The second half saw Dragovski, Fikai, and Ruben entering the match. In the 66th minute, additional substitutions included Katris, Tsokai, Kyriopoulos, Nikas, Dabizas, and Bregou.
Promising Start but Inconsistent Execution
Panathinaikos displayed elements of Alonso’s desired tactics on the pitch, particularly pressing high, quickly recovering possession, and vertical play. However, their execution varied, reflecting their early preseason stage.
A notable opportunity arose from a high press, where Mancini’s pass from the left found an unmarked Geremeev, who missed the target from close range. Conversely, a poorly executed high press allowed Paphos to threaten in the 43rd minute, with Tankovic’s shot being saved by Lodingin.
Second Half: Frequent Changes and Limited Chances
In the second half, Panathinaikos maintained their tactical principles but struggled to create clear chances. Although they were defensively solid, preventing Paphos from creating significant threats, the game lacked rhythm due to numerous substitutions.
Their best opportunity came in the 81st minute when Tsokai, after regaining possession outside the opponent’s area, had his shot saved by the Cypriot keeper.
Panathinaikos’ first friendly match concluded in a 0-0 draw. On an individual level, Lodingin stood out with several crucial saves, while Willian Arao impressed both as a midfielder and central defender, alongside Giorgos Vagiannidis.
