Panathinaikos improved with conductor and scorer Bakaseta

Panathinaikos is improving and making promises in view of the continuation. The “greens” in their first friendly in Greece, had a very good image, especially in the second half, against the AEK Larnaca and thanks to two wonderful goals from Bakaseta and one from Vagiannidis they prevailed 3-1, showing that they are adopting Diego Alonso’s style.

Debut for Nemanja Maksimovic with the “clover” on his chest, Mancini and Arao also positive, who helped a lot in Panathinaikos’ game and the transfer of the ball from the defense.

The “greens” will face Maccabi Netanya on Thursday 18/7 in the dress rehearsal ahead of the match of the second qualifying round of the Europa League.

In the mind of Diego Alonso:

Without many changes regarding the last match, Diego Alonso lined up Panathinaikos with a classic 4-3-3. Lodingin in goal, with Vaiannidis, Senkefeld, Jedvai and Kotsira in defense. Arau, with Vilena and Bakaseta were in the midfield trio, while at the ends of the attack Mancini fought on the right, Djuricic on the left and Geremegev at the top of the attack.

The match

Low speeds in the first minutes of the match in Leoforos with Panathinaikos having possession of the ball and circulating it with Arao and Bakaseta as the main exponents of the game. The ball was constantly carried to the ends with his lifts Vaiannidis to create cracks in the defense of AEK Larnaca and for the goal to come early.

It was the 9th minute when the young “clover” full-back was advanced by pressing into the area from the right, he made the turn aimed at Vilena, Enriques headed away with the ball reaching outside the area to Bacacheta who first controlled and then with a terrific one-piece shot sent the ball into the net for 1-0.

Alonso’s team maintained the initiative of the movements and every time the ball was not in “green” feet, the Panathinaikos players, rushed to steal it by pressing on the first line of defense of the guests.

In the 21st minute, AEK Larnaca threatened Lodingin’s goal, when after a foul was committed, the ball reached Cabrera, who made a cross-shot and found Sanchez in the area, he made the header, but the Panathinaikos goalkeeper was ready and pulled away impressively.

In the 31st minute, from the foul committed by Djuricic from the right, the ball reached the area of ​​the Cypriot team with Jedvai sending the ball out with his head, while seven minutes later the “greens” came close to 2-0.

Djuricic found himself in the area, saw that his teammates were marked, tried from outside the area with his right foot, but the ball “licked” the right crossbar of Alomerovic and went out with 1-0 being the score of the first half.

No changes for Panathinaikos at the start of the second half, with Alonso wanting to see his starting line-up get a little more time. With the completion of five minutes, came the second goal for the “clover”. Development from the right again with the ball leaving the defense of AEK Larnaca and Bakaseta with an amazing shot, scoring for the second time in the match for 2-0.

It took two minutes for Panathinaikos to approach AEK Larnaca again and reach 3-0. Jedvai switched play on the right to Mancini who made a great effort, got into the area, turned to Djuricic, but the Serb’s finish was poor and went wide.

In the 63rd minute, Diego Alonso made a substitution with Nemanja Maksimovic making his unofficial debut to a standing ovation from the crowd at the Avenue. Among others, Zeka, Dragovski, Limnios and Mladenovic played in the match. In fact, the new acquisition of the clover almost missed being anointed scorer in his first action. In the 66th minute, the Serb stole the ball and took a few steps up the field, opening the left to Mladenovic who returned to the area, but neither Maksimovic nor Djuricic managed to score.

The minutes went by with the pace dropping and Panathinaikos having possession of the ball moving it vertically and not parallel, a fact that Diego Alonso likes. In the 85th minute, AEK Larnaca managed to find the way to the net. From a nice vertical pass to the back of the Panathinaikos defense, Santos quickly left, going 4-on-4 with Dragovski, crossed, the Pole saved, but Mladenovic, who was following the phase, inadvertently sent the ball into the net for the 2-1 of the Cypriots.

However, Panathinaikos’ response was immediate, since seconds later Limnios took steps on the field, saw the overlap of Vagiannidis and passed the ball to him, and the young full-back with a wonderful spot completed the phase perfectly for the 3-1 which was also the final score of the match.

Team compositions:

Panathinaikos (Diego Alonso, 4-3-3): Lodingin (65′ Dragovski), Vagiannidis, Jedvai (75′ Katris), Senkefeld (64′ Maksimovic), Kotsiras (65′ Mladenovic), Arao, Vilena, Mancini (65′ Mancini), Bakasetas (75′ Perez), Djuric ( 75′ Aitor), Geremegev.

AEK Larnaca (Juan Ferrato 4-2-3-1): Alomerovic, Sanchez, Milisevic, Cabrera (56′ Suarez), Garcia, Lendes, Diemers, Farai (68′ Santos), Enriquez, Giursko (56′ Gama), Sol (83′ Vassiliou).