Panathinaikos has had success with Gacinovic but it needs to be much more specific

Panathinaikos has really had a long time to easily beat its opponent in the Super League, and that’s nowhere near the (biggest) “certainty” of the avenue. And as much as Apollon Smyrnis is in general…a low-ceilinged obstacle, the value of winning at Rizoupoli, but most importantly, the way Panathinaikos won was just what they needed to be absorbed even more and in the vibrations to start disappearing from the three consecutive defeats against Astera OFI and PAOK.

The greens came into the field with exactly the same momentum they showed in the three-day game with Lamia (13/2) on the Avenue. In the mood to attack with a lot of ideas and a lot of players from the middle and front, not giving the opponent any hope and finding quick goals. They did it twice before the 20th minute came out, even with an equal number of penalties. In order for the two violations to occur (which Evangelou rightly pointed out despite the protests of the Apollo administration), the ball went correctly into the “box” of the “Blue and White”.

From there Panathinaikos actually managed the game and missed many, many opportunities to score many more goals. Especially in the second half, Gacinovic (53′), Aitor (57′), Palacios and Ioannidis (62′) and Hatzigiovanni (79′, 90’+1′) missed terrible chances.

And that’s a big “bell” that should affect Ivan Jovanovic, but much more his players. Because in Agrinio the dates of the game will be very difficult and there Panathinaikos will have to be much more precise not to press it and not pay for it. Especially now that the thing is to be relocated.

The Serb has that “something” that was missing…

If we see the easy passage of Panathinaikos from Rizoupoli a little “deeper”, in the presence of Mijat Gacinovic we cannot stop. Yes, Aitor excelled in another game, being ‘inside’ on all three goals (he won the penalty, he scored in the second, Baxevanidis’ own goal came from his own train). Yes, Palacios – uninterrupted – continues the very good performances and flights of fancy with the Clover shirt, justifying every euro spent last summer to be taken over by Independiente (2 million euros in total).

However, the Serb is that ‘something’ that Panathinaikos has been missing in midfield. The Greens and Jovanovic managed to acquire him, because the “package” of his playing qualities is not easy to find, especially on the winter transfer market.

It’s no coincidence that Panathinaikos has regained momentum in their last two games from the moment Gacinovic started. Who the team is still learning, of course. But he is so smart and agile as a footballer that he knows how to show his competitive strengths for the benefit of the team.

And still not at 100%

Many will stand by the fact that he missed one, two and three good scoring chances in this particular match with Apollon. However, what we need to focus on is how he ideally “buttons up” in this mixed role of the player playing something between “8” and “10”, constantly standing between the opponent’s lines, with tremendous energy , but also the Willingness to play the ball immediately, constantly looking for combined football and the movement of his teammates on the field.

And yet, I repeat, it’s not 100% in terms of rhythm (because he hadn’t played much in Hoffenheim this year), but also in terms of the full assimilation of the game of the other Panathinaikos players, those from the middle and up front play . The ideas that he brings to the game of the shamrock, his personality, but also the “reading” of the combat conditions have already made him stand out.

And Panathinaikos can feel that it was a really, very important addition to the last transfer day. And if Palacios, one of his team-mates who has already made his living on the pitch, admits it in his statements and adores him for how important he is as a player even though they’ve only been playing together for three weeks, we don’t need to do that say something else..

Immediately Makeda’s operating room

Two important “notes” for the finale: Firstly, Federico Maceda is having an ankle operation. The decision has now been made and the Italian will undergo immediate surgery to overcome the problem that has been ‘plaguing’ him for months. In the first phase, he will be absent for about 2.5 months, so it will be difficult for him to reach even the playoff final or the Greek Cup final if Panathinaikos overtakes Lamia.

Secondly, in the phase Panathinaikos is currently in trying to regain its playful balance, there are no egos in the field. Not even an effort in the hair to “show” a player something… What needed to be shown, everyone has shown for a long time. On and off the pitch.