Now the (very) difficult for him begins Panathinaikos! Ivan Jovanovic’s team host tonight (21:00, sport-fm.gr, News Bulletin 247, COSMOTE SPORT 1) the Marseille in the crowded Avenue, in the first meeting between them for the 3rd qualifier of the Champions League.
Undoubtedly, the task of the Panathinaikos footballers is far from easy, facing a team with more experience, a bigger budget and unquestionable quality in every line.
The Marseille side want/should progress to the group stage and are the favorites of the pair in question. However, this it does not mean that the “greens” will go down… without a fight. On the contrary! The qualification over Dnipro in the previous phase of the world’s leading inter-club football competition has whetted everyone’s appetite.
The presence of Panathinaikos in the group stage of this year’s Champions League is a great motivation for the whole organization. A dream, as Jovanovic himself characteristically called it at yesterday’s press conference. A dream for which the “clover” will fight, starting with today’s match…
The aim of the Serbian technician is for his team to present the… factory characteristics that govern it. To play her game, to show her virtues and, with the undivided support of the people who will once again fill “Apostolos Nikolaidis”to get a result that will keep her “alive” in view of the rematch next week in France!
The good thing for Jovanovic is that, with the exception of the injured Schenkefeld, he does not face any other problems. Hence, the Panathinaikos squad includes both Cherin and Palmer-Brown, who even makes his debut, replacing Senkefeld.
In terms of starting formation, essentially, the question is whether the home team will line up with a more balanced center and Cerin in the 11 instead of Bernard, with Djuricic shifting to the left in that case… Or will they go for the beaten path with the more aggressive composition and the simultaneous presence of Palacios, Djuricic and Bernard?
On the other side, Marseille, in addition to all the advantages that accompany it, has to face a significant difficulty. The fact that does not possess the slightest racing rhythm… An element which Panathinaikos will -must- take advantage of in order to reach its goal.
The Phocaeans, on the one hand, entered directly into the specific phase of the competition, on the other hand, they have new coach and several new playerssome of which are expected to be even basic.
After all, this is what they focused on yesterday, speaking to the press representatives, both Marthelino and their captain Samuel Gigo, possibly wanting to justify the lack of automation they will show inside the playing area. Without, of course, that doesn’t mean they can’t do the… damage at any time and moment.
The Spanish coach faces significant absences either, with “very” Malinowski out of the picture after he is expected to leave, while they will likely line up with a 4-2-3-1 and zone defense.
We remind you that, if Panathinaikos eliminates Marseille, they will qualify for the playoffs of the Champions League. If he is left out of the French team, then he will automatically go through to the Europa League groups, without any further games.
Possible lineups:
Panathinaikos (Ivan Jovanovic): Brignoli, Kotsiras, Gedvai, Magnusson, Huancar, Ruben, Cerin, Vilena, Palacios, Sporar, Djuricic.
Marseille (Marthelino): Lopes, Lodi, Gigo, Balerdi, Klaus, Kodogbia, Veretou, Arit, Sarr, Ediage, Aubameyang.
Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Romania).
Assistants: Vasile Marinescu, Ovidiu Artene (Romania).
Fourth: Marcel Birsan (Romania).
VAR: Paolo Valeri (Italy).
AVAR: Aleandro Di Paolo (Italy).
Source: Sport Fm
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