After the 0-0 draw of Olympiacos against Plzen in the Champions League, it was time for the Greek representatives in the second qualifying round of the Europa League to begin their season.
Their performances left quite a bit of promise for the future, as both Aris and Atromitos displayed different qualities in their respective games against AE Limassol and Dunajska Streda.
The team from Thessaloniki was dominant from kick-off, creating many opportunities and not giving their opponents much room to breathe.
It was only due to their misfortune that they were unable to violate goalkeeper Vozinha’s goal on more than one occasion, with the ball bouncing off the post twice (once by Fetfatzidis’s effort on the 41st minute and another by Matilla on the 87th), while they were also awarded a penalty on the 39th but the British referee Stewart Atwell withdrew his decision.
Brown Ideye, Mihaly Korhut and Nicolas Diguiny were the key performers for Savvas Pantelidis’ side, with the rest of their teammates not far behind.
The goalless draw leaves the two teams with all to play for next week in Cyprus and the team that makes it through to the third round will face either Norwegian side Molde or Serbian Cucariski, with their first game also ending with no goals scored.
READ: Tsitsipas and Kyrgios to join forces
Atromitos on the other hand showed their defensive capabilities and their skill on the counterattack, as they were able to hold on for a narrow 1-2 win in Slovakia against Dunajska Streda.
The team from Peristeri was fortunate enough to find the opening goal on their first visit to their opponent’s half on the 21st minute, when man-of-the-match Javier Umbides attempted a cross from inside the area, with the ball bouncing off the defender and returning to his feet.
The Argentine then lobbed the ball over a helpless Jedlicka, giving his team the lead. The home side was quick to respond though, as the newly-introduced Kristopher Vida attempted the shot from just outside the area on the 35th minute, with Atromitos keeper Balasz Megyeri stretching out but never coming into contact with the ball that landed into the back of his net.
But Atromitos had not spoken their final word and just two minutes before half-time Umbides made the cross from the right and found the feet of Manousos, who tapped it behind the Slovakian keeper for the second time.
This was to be the final result of the game, despite the many opportunities on both ends in the second half, with Atromitos coming closest to a third on the 88th minute when substitute Farley took the ball past the keeper, yet his lob landed on the crossbar.
This win gives the Greek team a safe cushion for next week’s rematch in Peristeri, and should they advance they will be put up against the winner of the Legia Warsaw-KuPS tie, with the Polish team winning the first leg, 1-0.