Lucas Vigiafanies, who has the best time (and) of his two terms in office at Panathinaikos, was once again incredible – half a midfield alone -. He was great in runs, “shuffle” the lines of Mars, creation, but also executing “Toukou” Palacios in his most complete game so far with the “green” jersey. It was a source of strength, athleticism, freshness and intensity, Sotiris Alexandropoulos, who picked up a basic jersey after four games and displayed all his virtues (but also his small weaknesses) on the pitch.

The decisive difference in terms of the persuasiveness of Panathinaikos’ victory on Mars on Wednesday evening (January 5th) was made by Aitor Kantalapiedra. Neta-easy!

The Catalan winger with the special adjective, which translates loosely into “popular” means “a song from the stone” (!), Has done everything with Panathinaikos that he has not done for a year and a half. Specifically, he started a month and a half when he found a permanent job again and lives in the “Klee”, which he has not lived since the summer of 2020 when the “Greens” generously to a. paid manager and contract to own after a fight with Besiktas and 2-3 other teams.

Again, Ivan Jovanovic and his staff clearly deserve a lot of credit for hiring a “special” player with a flattened and fragile psychology who wanted to leave last summer to return to Spain who didn’t seem to him “clicks” with the team and cannot find any role or desire to do everything that made him shine in the Netherlands for two years (2018-2020) and made him a “frontline” winger again.

It’s not just the goal, the crossbar, the touch of the ball in the 1-0 phase after Juankar’s low spin that immobilized the Aris stoppers and pushed them into the timing that Palacios had to score after a double shot. It is above all the “air” and the self-confidence that the 25-year-old brings to the field, who is not afraid to take phases, who works extraordinarily with Vigiafanies, Juankar and repeatedly brings about triangular cooperation in the attacking third party. It’s the mood that sets in and now seems to be enjoying the ball as a child.

As if he had taken the “stones” from him and … is singing again in the stadium so that we can “play” a little with his last name. Psychology and confidence in football are a big deal.

Despite the absences, he was back in possession of the ball

Panathinaikos continued (and) in the match with Aris, from where it left off in the championship in 2021. More precisely, from the end of November he showed the steady improvement that he has shown in his races. In a game in which both teams were out for a long time due to the corona virus (Panathinaikos in the central midfield, Aris in the extreme), the “Greens” seemed much better prepared for such a game and adapted to their deficits.

Most impressive is the fact that while Panathinaikos would expect to have a “problem” with ball possession and circulation after some time due to the absence of Ruben (mainly) and Mauricio – who are extremely crucial and influential in the style of the football that Jovanovic is in established in the “clover leaf” in the last two months – from the moment Aris had the normal trio of central midfielders on the field (Sasha, Entiage, Dzego), the “Greens” were again dominant in the four rows of the field.

And they had possession of the ball for almost the entire game (from 54% -46% to 60% -40%) and the collaboration brought out the strength they needed in all of their personal duels, especially in midfield. This was ensured by Vigiafanies, who was everywhere, the terribly stubborn and efficient Alexandropoulos, who stole as many balls as Aris did not steal together, but also the fact that his two wingers (Palacios and Aitor) took and held a lot of ball, constantly cracks in the Generate defense of the opponent.

“Zero” in defense and Alexandropoulos

Another important merit in the defense line of Panathinaikos and with the experienced and “gunpowder-smoked” fives (Veeth, Senkefeld, Sanchez and Juankar together with Brinoli, all 30 to 31), which the Serbian coach has stabilized in the last games. Panathinaikos has now found enormous cohesion in the backcourt, holding back the “zero” for the fourth game in a row and showing that they have acquired an identity in the suspension. The Dutchman’s return is a big deal, although he couldn’t avoid 1-2 minor mistakes in his key transfers.

And for Alexandropoulos no (other) “big” words are needed. The “little one” is constantly growing, he is a mainstay of the future for Panathinaikos and all he needs to tremble a little is the overexcitation he sometimes shows (especially after impressive ball conquests), which makes him make effortless mistakes his transfers while the whole team moves up. But he’ll fix that too …

The highest staircase and duration

A mission for the “Greens” was carried out very convincingly and emphatically against Aris, with Panathinaikos increasing the difference to 5 points (and with fewer games), covering the 0-1 defeat at “Vikelidis” and he also covering the goal difference that was set on May play a role at the end of the season, after the two games he will play in the playoffs. Above all, however, he gained even more confidence against the “yellow-blacks” in view of their (very likely) clash in the cup semi-finals.

And now he can slowly begin to look a little higher on the display board. One step at a time is the long way from absolute zero and the “scorched earth” of last year to return. The question, as with anything in life, is duration. And how will all this improvement that Panathinaikos has made in the last two months and in its away games be recorded from the game on Sunday (09/01) in Volos to confirm its development in terms of points …