If Panathinaikos’ goal since its appearance in Theramika was to keep its hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Europa League alive, then it clearly failed to achieve this after the defeat against Villarreal.

If the point was to show on the pitch that what happened on Sunday at “Vikelidis” (and the signs that had previously become visible) was just a parenthesis, then the… aftertaste of about 100 minutes of football in Levante the one that justifies Ivan Jovanovic, who categorically claimed it in the press conference on the eve of today’s game.

Panathinaikos had highlighted the dysfunctional aspects of their game of late until the start of the second half. Without really noticing it, without the “Yellow Submarine” being in any way rousing and dominant, he had come to celebrate and was only 3-0 ahead in the 47th minute.

Firstly, because once again – and in a set attack, not just in transition – a simple foul was not committed (in this case by Mladenovic) – which would have stopped any threat from the start and finally led Panathinaikos to score again half a year ago Hour.

Then the… usual final blackout. Loss of all concentration, lack of consistency, the second goal came quickly, and the worst seemed to follow when at the beginning of the second half, after another error in the build-up of the game, there was another gift, this time from Araos, which made it 3-0 for the Levantines .

There, bad lies, no one should expect a reaction. And the reason was not just the result, but also the fact that it was generally missing from the “Greens”. Reaction of any kind. Either… self-preservation, survival to prevent the worst, or – even more – something like that that would lead them into the pitfall of forcing Villarreal to delay in order to retain the victory.

But it happened. He came. And it is precisely this reaction, this “breaking” of the chain of the previous ones, that is the advantage of Panathinaikos. Until something went wrong in a game tonight, then it happened that (it) was going to go wrong even more.

It didn’t happen – until the end – in the Levant. It goes without saying that returning tonight can in no way be a cause for celebration. No way. Panathinaikos played a break at Iberia, were defeated and eliminated from the Europa League continuation. Everything else follows.

But when Panathinaikos returns to Athens in the middle of an evening that not only seemed to move on, but also seemed to leave behind the pages of what had preceded it, cursed by his repeated mistakes and missing by a few centimeters in two phases ( in the goal of Aitor, who was canceled and in place of the Spaniard, who was eliminated) and to half-control (by Ioannidis at the end), then, yes, he can maintain this reaction and, above all, convince – first internally and then externally organization – that everything leading up to today’s game was actually a moment.

European continuity is essential

And that’s it. In a European competition group that includes a La Liga team and a Ligue 1 team, finishing 3rd cannot be a failure for any Greek team.

A missed opportunity for a memorable breakthrough, yes, this year it undoubtedly was for Panathinaikos. Especially considering the condition Villarreal has been in all autumn – confirmed by their image tonight, so insecure in everything, even when they were 3-0 up – and Rennes, but and based on the impressive and a promising start with the victory in September for the Levantines in the Olympic Stadium.

Third place in the group draw would logically be bought by the “Greens” when they return to the European competition groups. And very simple. It is now clear that their opponents were not completely invulnerable and they gave them the right to demand more. It is clear that the Super League leaders no longer deserved this as they could not take advantage of it.

Now it’s about securing 3rd place and checking the ticket for the continuation in the Knockouts of the Conference League. Anything else, against Maccabi and in a final at home, is a failure.

Panathinaikos will have to improve by the 47th minute of “Theramikas” to avoid it. Panathinaikos showed after the 47th minute that it was already improving (possibly).