Asteras Tripolis – Panathinaikos
Greece - Stoiximan Super League, Round 6
Asteras Tripolis won an away Super League match for the first time in 20 games (with an interim record of 0-7-13). Their previous away win was a 2-0 victory in Volos on March 19, 2022. They secured another away win at the same venue, winning 2-1 on September 24. Miritejo scored in the 7th minute, and Grozdanic in the 22nd (assisted by Bartolo), giving Asteras Tripolis an early 2-0 lead. The 20-year-old Croatian Grozdanic scored his first professional career goal. In the 59th minute, Trouige reduced the score for the home team with a penalty (goalkeeper N. Papadopoulos fouled Sielis). Asteras Tripolis had additional threats with Alvares (9'), Bartolo (16'), and Mandzis (69', denied by the home team's goalkeeper S. Papadopoulos). They faced pressure from the Magnesia team in the 64th minute (X. Garcia) and in the 80th minute (Engin). Their next match is an away game against Atromitos on October 2.
Racing News: Viko (ME) remains injured with a quadriceps problem. Newcomer Goss (M) will miss his second straight match due to indisposition. However, Atientha (A) returns to the squad after recovering. Valiente (M) and Alagbe (A) are still injured. Diara (M) and Mantzis (E) have a chance to compete for a starting position. The experienced Dzukanovic (A) was also left out.
Panathinaikos suffered their first defeat in this year's Super League, losing 2-1 to AEK at Leoforo on September 25. They took the lead with an improbable shot by Djurisic in the 10th minute (assisted by Ioannidis), but from then on, they failed to capitalize on their lead and experienced a competitive slump. The equalizer came in the 36th minute (Zuber), and the second goal was conceded in the 68th minute (Pineda, counted through VAR because it was initially ruled offside). They threatened twice with Vilena (6', 53'), and their best chances came from headers by Ioannidis (74', saved by Stankovic) and Arao (75', header off target). Brignoli made crucial saves, denying L. Garcia's big moments (12', 24'). They protested against Galanopoulos not receiving a second yellow card (61') for a foul on Mancini. Jovanovic attributed the defeat to unjustified irritation of his players. Panathinaikos faces Asteras Tripolis in Tripoli, a venue where they have struggled for years, next, after their costly defeat by AEK at Leoforos.