Marseille - Panathinaikos

Europe - UEFA Champions League, Qualification, Qualification round 3

Panathinaikos delivered their most impressive performance under Jovanovic's guidance in their 1-0 victory over Avenue. Depending on the opposing team's dynamics and roster, the Serbian coach made tactical adjustments, making significant changes to the starting lineup, especially on the right side, with Vagiannidis and Mancini taking the field. Notably, top scorer Bernard began the game on the bench, and it was Kleinheisler and Ioannidis who netted the winning goal (all three were substitutes). The team held possession at an impressive 67% and completed twice as many passes as their French opponents (570 vs. 281). These figures reflect the team's overall performance. While this win didn't guarantee anything concrete, the competitive spirit demonstrated offers hope for advancement, particularly evident after the 65th minute when they held a numerical advantage and were hardly under threat.

The upcoming match at home against Atromitos is set for August 19th. Should Panathinaikos proceed, it is anticipated that they will request a rescheduling of domestic fixtures, possibly due to matches against Braga. In the case of elimination, the date will likely shift to August 20th, considering AEK's fixture against Dinamo Zagreb in the UCL.

In terms of competition updates: Cherin (M), recently recovered from an injury, entered the game in the 78th minute and is vying for a starting role, although his chances may be limited. Schenkefeld (A) is back in training but is not on the European squad list. Thus, the unexpected participant in the first match, Gedvai (A), remains ineligible. Players like Zeka (M), Aitor (ME), Ganea (A), and Geremegev (E) are sidelined due to various reasons. Given the circumstances, further alterations to the starting lineup by the Serbian coach cannot be ruled out.

While Panathinaikos operates as a more cohesive "team," Marseille boasts greater individual quality, which is anticipated to shine through in front of their home crowd. The "greens" will likely require goals to withstand the intensified pressure, notably stronger than in the initial match, that Marseille will exert.