Panathinaikos 3-0: He swept him! The Union defeated the clover and became the absolute favorite for the title

The Athenian derby at the OPAP Arena was painted yellow and black, as AEK prevailed 3-0 against Panathinaikos in the seventh game of the Stoiximan Super League playoffs. Matias Almeida’s team got a very important three points and became the absolute favorite for the title.

The Union was better for most of the derby against the shamrocks (if not all) and managed to lay the groundwork early for the three points.

Niklas Eliasson scored the first goal of Matias Almeida’s players. The Swede stole the ball himself in midfield and Pineda fed him to the right spot with Eliasson finishing beautifully.

Ponce scored the second goal in the 38th minute. Akaidin made a huge mistake and the Argentinian went into the area and with an exemplary placement made it 2-0, beating Dragovski who was unable to react.

The third goal of the yellow and black came in the 69th minute. Pineda had plenty of space in front of him on the left, entered the area and passed to Gacinovic. He took the shot, Dragovski stopped him, but Eliasson who followed the phase and was in the right spot made it 3-0. A goal that was wildly celebrated, both by the bench and by Dimitris Melissanidis.

The hosts had a chance for a third goal in the 62nd minute. Pineda took the ball from the left, avoided Akaidin and anyone in front of him and made the shot from the height of the penalty. His effort was stopped by Dragowski’s post, while Ponce’s superb volley produced another shot, with the Polish trefoil keeper saving the goal with the help of the post.

The Union has reached 75 points and is +4 ahead of Panathinaikos (the Union is superior in the draw). PAOK and Olympiacos follow with 68 and 67 respectively, but both have one game less, the derby between them in Toumba.

This is how the two coaches lined up the teams

Matias Almeida handed a starting shirt after many months to Sergio Araujo, who played alongside Ezequiel Ponce at the top of the table. The Argentinian coach kept Szymanski – Jonsson on the axis and Pineda played on the left.

On the other side, Fatih Terim lined up with 4-3-3. Arao, Tserin and Bakasetas composed the trio of axis, while Palasios, Limnios and Ioannidis played at the top.

Eliasson and Ponce set the stage for victory

AEK entered the field better and threatened first in the sixth minute. Eliasson made the sweet cross from the right and Ponce sent the ball narrowly wide with a nice header. A minute later Union found the goal they were looking for, with Eliasson.

The visitors threatened for the first time in the ninth minute. Juancar filled in from the left and Palacios sent the ball wide with a nice one-piece shot.

After Eliasson’s goal, Panathinaikos tried to get the ball at his feet and threaten, but did not threaten Athanasiadis’ frames with claims. In the 14th minute Ponce threatened again after Araújo’s turn, but his fine shot was answered by Dragovski.

Seven minutes later, AEK had another final. Eliasson took the corner from the right and Vida, jumping higher than anyone, sent the ball towards the goal, but Dragovski stopped him. In the 26th minute Ponce (who had five finals in the first half) had a chance. Eliasson fed him with a vertical pass and the Argentinian forward sent the ball out with the shot from the semi-circle of the area.

In the 34th minute, Panathinaikos lost its best moment in the first half. Bakasetas made a cross from the right and Ioannidis sent the ball just wide with a nice turning header. Four minutes later, AEK found the second goal with Ponce, after Akaidin’s disastrous mistake. This was also the last important phase of the first part.

Panathinaikos called for a penalty when Araouhos marked Kotsiras in the corner of the area. Terim and two of his colleagues were booked for protesting.

Eliasson put the icing on the cake with the second goal

Panathinaikos struggled to get into the match in the second half and for this reason Fatih Terim decided to take more risks, playing with two strikers.

Ioannidis was the one who threatened first. Initially in the 47th minute with a nice long shot he did not worry Athanasiadis who blocked the ball, while in the 54th minute his effort went over the top. In the 57th minute he had a final attempt to cut down on Juancar, but his effort went wide.

Union’s first good moment of the second half came in the 59th minute when Szymanski took advantage of Arao’s mis-kick and with a great dribble over Vilena and shot forced Dragovski into a fine save.

In the 62nd minute, Union missed a huge opportunity to make it 3-0. Pineda took the ball from the left and avoided anyone in front of him. The shot he launched was stopped by Dragovski’s crossbar and as the phase progressed, Ponce with a wonderful backscissor could not beat Dragovski, who with the help of the post made it 3-0.

3-0 came in the 69th minute thanks to a second personal goal from Niklas Eliasson, who had no problem scoring from close range.

After 3-0, Panathinaikos could not stand threatening to get something out of the match and essentially gave up. AEK was superior but could not find a fourth goal, with the 3-0 remaining until the final.

AEK: Athanasiadis, Rota (76′ Amrabad), Vida, Cullens, Hadjisafi, Simanski, Jonsson, Pineda (82′ Mandalos), Eliasson (76′ Mitoglou), Araujo (58′ Gacinovic), Ponce (76′ Garcia).

Panathinaikos: Dragovski, Kotsiras (77′ Vaiannidis), Akaidin, Jedvai, Huancar (64′ Mladenovic), Arao, Limnios (46′ Sporar), Palasios (46′ Vilena), Tserin, Bakasetas (64′ Verbic), Ioannidis.

Check out Game Night