Panathinaikos: The match of the year should be the third and… the most expensive of Triphyllio | Blog – Nikos Athanasiou

Nikos Athanasiou writes about the Trifyllio final on Wednesday night in Nea Filadelfia against AEK.

THE Panathinaikos he did the obvious, he did his duty against the punching bag of this year’s play offs, he defeated Lamia inside and out and even in yesterday’s game he also scored five goalshaving in a demonic state him Fotis Ioannidis and the Tasso Bakaseta. We talked about this game on Sunday night but there is really no point in having another discussion, to make an additional reference to this match when on Wednesday, when the game of the year comes in two days.

As the situation has developed, we are obviously talking about a “final” of the championship. Until the next one for him Panathinaikos that if he leaves the Opap Arena as a winner, he will unlock the next track that will probably say ”do or die” and is in Toumba against PAOK on the 9th and penultimate matchday.

The upcoming Athens derby will prove pivotal in the development of this year’s unrepeatable battle for the title, as:

*If AEK wins, will escape at +4 from Clover, practically at +5, as it will also have the draw. In this case it will become the favorite for the championship. Caution! The favorite will be done. Neither will she embrace it, nor can you call her a big favorite, as until the finale, she has to play both in Karaiskakis and in Toumba, with the other contenders for the crown. She will definitely get a huge psychological boost but her schedule is tough.

*In case of a tie PAOK and Olympiacos will have the opportunity to get back firmly in the gulf and go to a sensational photo finish, where probably everything will be decided in the last matchday. AEK will remain at +1 from Panathinaikoswith Trifylli being within breathing distance and theoretically having a more passable schedule, with Aris and Olympiakos in Leoforos and PAOK in Toumba.

*If Panathinaikos leaves victorious for the first time from the Opap Arena, then he will become the favorite for the title. As for AEK, so for him, only the term favorite can be said if the “three points” end up in his own hands. He will have a significant lead of 2 points which will practically be 3 against Union due to the tie that will be his.

If they beat Uniou, they will have Aris in their stadium in the next matchday, while AEK will play PAOK in Toumba and could open the gap on Sunday if Matias Almeida’s team stumbles. Of course, we could have a much clearer picture if PAOK-Olympiakos had taken place, a game that will largely clarify which of the two will remain in the bay until the end.

Clover in this match, obviously, and goes for the victory. And only for this, as only the “three points” can bring him into the role of driver for three races before the final and everything will be on his own feet, on his own results, on his own performance. Without waiting and depending on any result to lift it at the end of the season.

THE Panathinaikos he is asked to do what he did not do last year in two similar games against AEK. He is called to play Wednesday’s match… third and dangerous. In the play offs of the 2022/2023 season, in the second matchday, the undefeated Dabanovic he didn’t let him beat and escape to +5, taking the lead for the title. 0-0. Then the “greens” had a great chance at their home ground with a victory to… clean up the league, but in that game the Union was superior and the 0-0 “sealed” the efforts of both teams and in at the end of the marathon the one who smiled was AEK.

Beyond that, if hypothetically someone asked for an ideal condition for him Panathinaikos to go play this match, this final, I think she would choose the one that emerged from reality. That is, a Clover that has four consecutive wins, a set that has in beast mode the most influential player, Fotis Ioannidis and in excellent condition Bernard, Arao and Bakaseta. THE Panathinaikos he looks good, he seems to have good reserves of energy, super psychology and all this he should show on the grass of New Philadelphia.

The only thing that could spoil the above ideal scenario is his condition Bernard. The Brazilian seems to have anticipated the worst, immediately changed. If the derby was on a Sunday it would definitely be “in”. Now we are talking about a game in two days, this makes it more difficult but not impossible and we will have updates throughout the day. We don’t even need to explain how important it will be to him Panathinaikos to have him available…

PS1: Any KED selection other than an Elite referee for this game will be a huge risk, one that could blow up the league.