Panathinaikos managed a very important win against AEK much easier than expected, which secured them a place in the playoffs.

He was lucky enough to create the conditions for Alexandropoulos and Argyris Giannikis to start presenting a plan that left him a field to exploit.

The difference was made by the one who played randomly

Vigiafanes’ injury and Mauricio’s lack of preparation forced Ivan Jovanovic to field Alexandropoulos. The most modern midfielder with a difference in his squad, but he has it very low in his own rating.

Alexandropoulos does not feature in Jovanovic’s starting XI as he signed a player from his own field in January, while Kourbelis is also making a return.

The truth is that the little one doesn’t see the competition. But if conditions didn’t help, he would watch the game from the bench. From the moment he fought he made a difference. The ability to overtake the player’s staff set the stage for the game to go exactly the way Panathinaikos wanted.

In the 13th minute he did through the area an action few Greek midfielders would attempt, taking advantage of his opponent’s low level and taking the penalty. He did other things in the game and it is certain that Poget, who saw him from the stands, rubbed his hands. Panathinaikos took the lead in the score, which did not allow Argyris Giannikis to return to his original approach.

As I wrote in my foreword, the two elements that determined the fate of the derby were the presence of Alexandropoulos and Giannikis’ plan.

He had a counterattack football lineup and was playing something completely different

It’s really putting your hands up how the coach of AEK managed the game. A coach when he decides to start with Garcia, Chuber, Amrabat behind the attacking trio makes it clear that he wants to play on the field.

AEK didn’t have a boss on the pitch. Simanski was absent from the Axis duo and Giannikis’ decision was not to field a regular midfielder. With an order screaming that there will be a game with space and counterattacks, AEK came down to play something else entirely.

From the first phase we saw that she chose to push high to keep her lines on the bar. He tried to do that without having a solid midfielder on the pitch, with three wingers behind the striker and a defense that is notoriously unfavorable.

With this plan, he gave Jovanovic’s players space to exploit. It was easy to find the points they needed to hit.

Panathinaikos, who has proven throughout the season that opening up versatile defenses is difficult, was lucky to find an opponent who offered him a game, one against one of the wingers, with opposite backs and the possibility that Ioannidis the opponent’s stopper falls directly towards him. He used those elements easily and secured a valuable win. The first in a derby this season.

He defeated Rota and Hadjisafi

On the first goal, Alexandropoulos played one-on-one with Rota and scored the penalty. Then it was clear that the goal was to get the Palacios – Aitor out of their stride.

Two minutes after Aitor’s penalty, Sanchez stole a ball and passed it straight to Palacios. Hadjisafi was out of place and the Argentine winger bit the ball, unmasking Javella, who ducked for cover and completed his attempt with a 2-0 goal.

The third goal came from the touchline again, this time from the right, when Aitor’s beautiful cross found Ioannidis’ move, who scored a classic centre-forward goal to make it 3-0.

Panathinaikos could have scored a fourth goal without being too aggressive without being too aggressive. You see, it made it very easy for Ioannidis to find opposing stoppers high enough.

Conditions were created for Palacios and Aitor to capitalize on their runs

Panathinaikos gets short-circuited in difficult times and Giannikis implemented a game plan aimed at making his life easier. It offered him clear targets and spaces to hit and capitalize on his players’ qualifications.

Playing Jovanovic with Aitor and Palacios on the side that has good legs, it’s clear he wants to use their speed.

By giving them Rota and Hadjisafi and even in conditions that are easily manageable with a sprint on their backs, you ensure they easily find clear phases with their sprints to hit.

It gets even weirder that he chose that particular shot while using the weakest defensive left-back he has. Hadjisafi could not respond to this mission.

In confusion

I really can’t understand what Argyris Giannikis had in mind, but it’s clear he’s confused. He came with a team screaming that he was made for counter-attacking football and switched to a plan that allowed the opposition to play on the counter-attack from the first minute.

And all against a team that everyone knows will be short-circuited if you scale back their measures and give them the ball. Also, Giannikis himself beat Panathinaikos in this way in the first round.

The season is open to everything for Panathinaikos

Panathinaikos won their first derby of the season in great comfort, confirming their presence in the playoffs. The season is still open and offers the team the right to complete it successfully. Panathinaikos has as a minimum goal to go to Europe.

His draw opened the door to reaching the final. The minimum goal that must be achieved is fourth place and reaching the cup final. If these two happen, the season will be successful.

There is a possibility of absolute success by capturing the cup, but of course it is there and the bad scenarios are open.

It is unacceptable that this year’s side fail to leave Europe and of course not be left out of the cup by Lamia either. Anyway, the season for Panathinaikos is still open and has a way.

The way Giannikis faced the derby with Panathinaikos is chilling for the future

At AEK it’s different. Being banned from the Cup deprives her of the right to find a way to make this year a successful one.

What is certain is that at the end of the season there will be a group of people who have failed. But there are still games and derbies to be given. Argyris Giannikis looks confused and the way he has approached the derby with Panathinaikos raises fears for the future.