Panathinaikos’ unbelievable 2019 collapse
AGONAsport’s Nick Tsambouniaris looks at the shocking statistics behind Panathinaikos’ unbelievable collapse in 2019.
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Under a new coach in Giorgos Donis, coupled with an array of fresh faces in the form of promoted youngsters and some shrewd signings, Panathinaikos were scoring for fun in the first half of the season. The new-look Greens were once averaging an incredible 2.6 goals per game at one point, however, that has now fallen to a poor 1.27 goals per game.
Last season’s team scored 30 goals in 30 games, therefore, this season’s 34 goals have only been a very slight improvement, which in the grand scheme of things is not good enough. In many cases, the numbers can only paint the picture to a certain extent, but in this case it is the harsh reality.
The statistic that best highlights the rapid fall in the second half of the season after the Christmas break, is the fact that the team has only mustered 14 goals in 2019. This is compared to 24 in the first half of the season.
To make matters worse, eight out of the 34 goals scored came against the same opponent - Apollon Smyrnis (five in the first meeting at OAKA and three in the second meeting at Rizoupoli). This was against the team the finished well and truly bottom of the league with only two wins to their name all season. Additionally, the cellar dwellers and Panetolikos were the only two sides the Greens defeated home and away this season.
Taking these eight goals out of the picture, the team only scored 30 goals in the 27 other fixtures. Furthermore, the Greens had a +12 goal difference in the first half of the season. In the second half of the season, the team has also not been as solid at the back, conceding more goals than what were scored.
Another statistic which makes for grim reading is the fact that five players contributed to 65% of the goals. Federico Macheda (10), Tasos Chatzigiovannis (4), Giannis Bouzoukis (4), Mattias Johansson (4), and Ilias Chatzitheodoridis (3) scored 22 out of the 34 goals to date.
