He played for… as long as Panathinaikos lasted and won in the dress rehearsal with Maccabi Netanya

THE Panathinaikos completed the friendlies of this year’s preparation with another victory, with 1-0 on her Maccabi Netanya on the Avenue, with Maksimovich to be basic and the Ingason to do debut.

The “clover” had good picture in the first 45 minutesduring which he produced elements that Diego Alonso demands, such as relentless pressing, chasing the ball and fine partnerships, while scoring a nice finish by Mancini at 30′.

In the second half, the unbearable heat, normal for the season fatigue and the many changes dropped the tempo, allowing the visitors to create more dangerous phases.

Now, Panathinaikos will face the Botev Plovdiv -which excluded Maribor- to second qualifying round of this year’s Europa Leaguewith the first match taking place on July 25 in the OAKA.

In the coach’s mind:

THE Panathinaikos lined up with a system 4-2-3-1 Dragovski in goal and Kochira, Senkefeld, Jedvai and Mladenovic four at the back. Maksimovic and Vilena were the two on the axis, with Mancini, Bacacetta and Djuricic in the back three behind Geremegev, who played at the top of the attack.

The match:

Panathinaikos push high from the starttook possession of the ball and having some good partnerships, tried to create dangerous situations mainly from the wings.

Recorded his first…suspected phase in the 6th minute, with Mladenovic filling in from the left, but Geremegev couldn’t for a while to make the head, at the height of the small area…

Maccabi Netanya found first clear goal chance, in the 10th minute. When a wrong turn by Maksimović for Mancini resulted in a corner from the left. By Vargas to take the lead and him Dragovski taking offto chase with the help of his beam!

the “greens” they continued to press unbearably their opponent, who was playing with… a double zone defense at intervals. They showed determination, but struggled to find opportunities to threaten, winning several corners without capitalizing on them.

I will they had to win a penalty, in the 26th minutewith Vilena overturning on the line, but referee Papapetrou called a foul.

Finally, Panathinaikos opened the score with the completion of half an hour of the match, thanks to beautiful collaboration of Mancini-Djuricic and the fine finish of the first, for the 1-0!

Some half-hearted efforts by Alonso’s players followed, and he could have taken a two-goal lead in the 38th minute. However his shot unmarked Villena a little inside the area, after Kotsira’s turn from the right, he ended up in the arms of Yaakov…

With the guests making their presence felt for the second time in the match, just in the 43rd minute, with Plakusenko’s miss and Kotsiras imitating him in the next phase.

In the second half, the pace was more subdueddue to the intense heat but also the legs of the “clover” players which were, naturally thanks to the preparation, “heavy”.

Wanting to “refresh” his team, Alonso proceeded to quadruple changebut Maccabi Netanya managed to take measures on the field and, not having to face the corresponding pressure of the opponent, register two good opportunities for the equalization.

First, in the 65th minute, with Kolzen unable to score for 1-1, misfiring with the goal… plate, after Vargas’ nice pass. As well as in 74′, with double key removal from Ingason and Katriwho had also taken the field in… the Uruguayan coach’s second set of changes, which he put five new faces…

Panathinaikos stepped up a bit after that and registered their first significant phase in the 76th minute, with Aitor’s fine shot going narrowly wide.

While also coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute, Nikas almost scored on his first contact with the ball, but his header went wide. With the game ending at 1-0 and the hosts turning their attention to Europe.

The compositions of the two teams:

Panathinaikos (Diego Alonso): Dragovski (64′ Lodingin), Kotsiras (83′ Fikai), Senkefeld (72′ Ingason), Jedvai (72′ Katris), Mladenovic (64′ Vagiannidis), Maksimovic (64′ Arao), Vilena (72′ Ruben), Bakasetas (72′ Zeka), Mancini (72′ Aitor), Geremegev (83′ Nikas), Djuricits (64′ Limnios).

Maccabi Netanya (Marko Bulbul) : Yaakov (71′ Zarfati), Jaber, Sade, Sabat, Levy, Tavares (55′ Bilou), Keller (55′ Meir), Canaric (46′ Kolzen), Vargas (71′ Salman), Plakusenko (55′ Zaroura) , Zlatanovic.

See here the description of the match from the Match Centre