Panathinaikos improve on last season’s results

Panathinaikos improve on last season’s record against the teams they have faced to date, by winning more and losing less, scoring more goals, and improving in the derbies. AGONAsport investigates.

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Panathinaikos started the 2019-20 season slowly, but results have picked up, and the improvement is evident. Based on the results alone, the Greens have accumulated 22 points to date. Against the same opposition last season, Giorgos Donis’ team had only gained 15 points in comparison. This is taking into account that the newly-promoted Volos were not in the top flight last season, so the 1-1 draw against them does not count.

As a result, the following can be deduced.

Better Attack and Defence

The seven-point differential ultimately stems down to the results and the figures. Panathinaikos have a better attacking and defensive record against the teams they have faced this season, compared to last season. This season’s record currently sits at 15 goals for and 17 goals against, whereas last season’s record against the same teams was at 13 goals for and 21 goals against.

Focusing on this season, the team started poorly by conceding eight goals in their opening three games against Lamia, OFI, and Aris. However, since then, the Trifylli have only conceded ten goals - averaging less than a goal a game. This strong defence gives the team a platform to build on and boosts their chances of winning matches. As a result, there is less pressure on the forward line to score many goals to win games.

More Wins, Less Losses

So far, the Greens have a record of five wins, six draws and four losses (not factoring the result against Volos). Last season against the same opposition, the team had a record of four wins, four draws, and seven losses. Consequently, the Prasini have won one extra match and impressively lost three fewer games.

Last season, the Greens lost a total of five away matches, and this season have only lost once on the road - a 4-0 result against Aris in Thessaloniki.

Improved Home Form

The team have significantly improved their home record, compared to last season, where Panathinaikos only registered four points against the teams they faced this season. This time around, however, ten points have been obtained. This six-point improvement has played a significant role in the team’s overall improvement (remembering the team have registered seven more points this season). This means that six out of the seven points have been gained at the OAKA Stadium.

Of course, this record only takes into account the teams which the Greens have faced at home so far this season. Excluding the opposition, this time last season, the Greens had 12 home points to their name, but it is only 11 now.

Less Goal Scorers Compared to Last Season

Although the team is scoring more so far this season, less players are scoring. The 15 goals scored to date have been shared by five players - Macheda (5), Chatzigiovanis (4), Zahid (3), Perea (2), Kolovetsios (1). Last season’s 13 goals were split between 10 players - Bouzoukis (3), Macheda (2), Chatzigiovanis, Altman, Kace, Donis, Insua, Kolovetsios, Kourbelis, Emmanouilidis.

Significant Improvement in Derbies

Possibly the most significant aspect of improvement in the 2019-20 edition of Panathinaikos has been their strong record in derbies. In the three derbies to date against the traditional heavyweights and title rivals Olympiacos, PAOK, and AEK, the Trifylli have picked up five points. At the same stage last season, the team only had one point to show for their efforts. The four-point improvement comes from the following results: 

Olympiacos at home 1-1 (last season 0-1) - match suspended in 70th minute, Olympiacos given 0-3 victory.

PAOK away 2-2 (last season 2-0 loss)

AEK at home 3-2 (last season (0-0)

The thrilling 3-2 win over the Enosis remains one of the highlights of the season.

by Nick Tsambouniaris

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