Panathinaikos and Aris’ clash ends in stalemate
 

SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 16

Panathinaikos ended their 2019 on an indifferent note that has been typical of their Super League season so far on Sunday after being held to a goalless home draw by Aris at the Olympic Stadium.

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Giorgos Donis’ side hit the post late on through Dimitris Kourbelis with eight minutes left, while Aris had a goal disallowed for offside in the 62nd minute, Giannis Fetfatzidis being the unlucky player for the Thessaloniki club.

Other than that, chances were few and far between in this closely-contested Matchday 16 clash with the game balanced in the first half and then Panathinaikos just about shading it in the second but without the maximum reward of three points.

The result doesn’t help either side a great deal, with Aris in sixth spot on 22 points, while the Greens lie seventh on the same number of points but behind their rivals on head-to-head results.

THE MATCH

Coming into this match, Panathinaikos seeed to have worked on their inconsistent form and they have methodically worked their way up the table after a poor start to the season thanks to a seven-match unbeaten run.

They welcomed an Aris side who have also blown hot and cold this season. The Thessaloniki club bounced back from a defeat against OFI with a victory over Volos on Thursday, and sparks were expected to fly between these two at the OAKA.

Unfortunately that was not the case, in a match that did not live up to the hype surrounding it.

In the first half, Panathinaikos’ best chance came in the 22nd minute when Federico Macheda released Juan Jose Perea, who failed to beat Aris goalkeeper Julian Cuesta in a one-on-one situation.

Aris did not trouble the Greens backline in the first half, but Fetfatzidis was their main outlet and most of their creative moments came from the former Olympiacos winger.

In the second half Panathinaikos managed to put more pressure on the Aris defence but it was the visitors who had the ball in the net two minutes after the hour mark when Fetfatzidis slotted it through Sokratis Dioudis’ legs. But play was called back for offside and the goal did not count.

After that Panathinaikos stepped up their efforts and on 64 minutes Macheda should really have scored when he raced clear one-on-one with Cuesta. The Aris keeper was not even called upon to make a save as the Greens’ Italian striker hit his shot narrowly wide.

A last chance to score for Panathinaikos came on 82 minutes when Ghayas Zahid picked out Kourbelis with a free-kick. The PAO captain headed goalwards but his effort hit the left post and bounced to safety.

STARTING LINEUPS

Panathinaikos: 1 Dioudis (Gk), 3 Insua, 44 Pougouras, 30 Nunes, 16 Apostolakis, 8 Donis, 21 Kourbelis, 11 Chatzigiovanis, 19 Perea, 18 Bouzoukis, 9 Macheda

Aris: 23 Cuesta (Gk), 69 Korhut, 44 Velez, 92 Rose, 5 Delizisis, 88 Sasha, 26 Matilla, 28 Fetfatzidis, 16 Gama, 10 Larsson, 11 Ideye

HIGHLIGHTS

by Graham Wood

Image Source: sportfm.gr

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