Football has its own magical way of showing you how each year will unfold. There are certain games, moments that, viewed individually, photograph the change of times. Such a moment was shared by the friends of Panathinaikos on Sunday night in Leoforos against an opponent who hadn’t managed to beat them in the last 7 games they faced.

He won just like he lost last year

Last season, on January 29, Panathinaikos was defeated by Asteras in Leoforos with a penalty similar to yesterday’s game. Sanchez, in the 82nd minute and in his anger to quickly win the ball so his team could create a new attack instead of kicking the ball, found Riera’s body with his foot. Tough penalty but in the age of VAR it’s a penalty. Again this year it was Panathinaikos’ turn in the 80th minute to beat Asteras 1-0 and break the negative tradition that had been created.

Same project with a different ending

It was a game that went similarly, with the games ending in which Panathinaikos failed to beat Asteras. The game seemed to have been played again on the avenue, but there was one difference, it seemed like everyone on the pitch felt that this time a way would be found and the ball would go into Papadopoulos’ net. That finally happened when Panathinaikos won with a penalty that was not the result of an opening in the opposition defence, but rather a misjudgment of phase by Alvarez.

The absence of sporar is crucial

The conditions for Panathinaikos’ victory were created, the absence of Sporar was decisive for the “want” to play, and the absences of Kotsiras and Cerin Jovanovic made life difficult. Sanchez cannot offer the width and height of the Greek full-back, while the Slovenian midfielder is instrumental in building attacks between the opposition’s axis lines. But certainly Sporar’s deficit was difficult, it was important, especially with the way Asteras played.

Asteras with the usual Avenue shot

Metaxas presented the Asteras to the Avenue the same way Rastavacs presented it, and he got the results. Barales at the level of the cross, 5 midfielders spread out behind him and the defensive four, just outside the large area. Asteras’ logic was to narrow the field in Panathinaikos, with the big bodies he placed in close proximity so he couldn’t play between the opponent’s lines.

To lead the game to many duels that will end and stop the battle and pace of the game. A style of football that irritates people and footballers and brings back memories, phobias that recent results between them have created for the home team.

Chances only from standard situations in the first half

The plan really worked, Panathinaikos only had two chances in the first half, through two fouls. In the 33rd minute, Bernard took a low free-kick he fought for with nice energy, the ball went to Sanchez, who ricocheted off his heel and Schenkefeld found himself a bit sideways in the small space and was beaten by Papadopoulos. In the 44th minute, Aitor’s free-kick landed at the far post at Sanchez, who didn’t find the ball full.

He tried playing with Huancar in the replay

Evident in the replay was the effort to find a way to get the ball up Huancar’s heights and find executions for Aitor. You see, with a lot of attacks coming from Palacios’ side, the Argentine’s options were disappointing. Overall, Palasios hasn’t found a rhythm yet and Panathinaikos will have to make a real effort to keep winning. In addition, Ioannidis had players close to him, he struggled, but he could not fill Sporar’s gap, and in a game with difficult demands on the forward, he failed to find a good final or a correct final decision.

There were some good conditions in the second half with decent ball circulation like in the 53rd minute when Juancar passed the ball to Aitor and the Spanish winger didn’t find the ball fully and in the 63rd minute when Bernard found him with a nice cross on the run Aitor, who had switched sides, but the Spaniard’s move was cut off by the Astera defences.

The stillness made the difference

However, Panathinaikos didn’t create a real chance. But there was a calm, a confidence that brought victory in the end. Unlike similar games of the past, there was no panic on the field and in the attitude of the players and coaches of the team, even the people did not get carried away with the Astera game and took even more vacations that would help them work. There was no stress and an attempt was made to do everything calmly and with a clear mind.

Magnusson’s quality

There was proper ball motion that started at Magnuson’s feet. The Icelandic stopper may have been responsible for Asteras’ only chance from Brignoli in the 93rd minute, but throughout the game he showed why he is a very important addition. He comfortably stopped any Astera attack attempt that went into his own area and immediately had the ability to make the first pass, which marked the development of the team.

He knew that one goal would be enough for him

Panathinaikos had created a game that they knew one goal would be enough to win. The back zero seemed secure and he looked at the golden goal calmly, without panic or fear. He didn’t have the striker he paid for games like this over the summer, he didn’t have Palacios on a good day and he had to face a wall and a team that came on the pitch by any legitimate means to take 0 to get -0.

Asteras manages this particular game every year with the aim of not allowing Panathinaikos to win it. He doesn’t play it, he doesn’t look for anything on offense, but he’s found a way of playing that short circuits him and corrupts his sanity. A football in a confined space, with a lot of tackles and a lot of delays after those fights.

He’s learned how to win

And this year that football shorted him, it ate up a lot of pure football time with the countless falls but his sanity didn’t spoil it. You see, in football winning is also a matter of habit, teams train for failure and success and Jovanovics Panathinaikos has been learning how to win since last season’s playoffs.

For one more game, the resourceful Aitor was there to put his foot in the game while his opponent was in control and capitalize on his misjudgment to win a golden penalty. Panathinaikos managed to win their third game in the first 7 games they lost last season and continue on their way to the title unscathed, shouting to everyone that times have changed.

Watch Game Night for all the action on Super League Matchday 7: