Panathinaikos’ European journey has suffered its first setback as they failed to overturn a two-goal deficit against Rangers in the return leg in Athens, crashing out of the Champions League as a result.
Despite a valiant effort, the Greens were unable to level the tie as they recorded a 1-1 draw with the Scottish giants at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday morning (AEST) to lose 3-1 on aggregate.
The “Trifylli” threatened throughout the first half with numerous chances (not unlike the first half of the first game in Glasgow), but they were unable to penetrate Rangers’ defence.
The Greens had a bit of fortune go their way in the second period after VAR overturned an original offside call on Filip Djuricic’s 53rd minute goal.
The Serbian pounced on a beautiful cross into the box by playmaker Anastasios Bakasetas, heading the ball after its initial bounce into the bottom right corner.
After an extended check, VAR eventually awarded the goal in what the hosts hoped would spell the beginning of a comeback into the tie.
Their hopes were quickly dashed, however, when the Scottish side equalised just a few minutes later on the hour mark.
Djeidi Gassama, one of the goal scorers from the first game, stepped up for his team once more, latching onto the rebound of a Bartlomiej Dragowski save and finishing the ball expertly into the net off the right post.
The goal sapped the energy out of Panathinaikos’ players and faithful alike, which they were never able to fully recover for the remaining half hour.
Panathinaikos now enters the third qualifying round of the Europa League, with their opponents very likely to be Shakhtar Donetsk (unless Besiktas somehow scores a remarkable comeback win akin to what the Greens were hoping for).
Pafos stepped up where the Greens could not as they sealed their place in the next qualifying round of the Champions League with a 0-1 away triumph over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The Cypriot club came into the game level after a 1-1 draw last week, though the complexion of the second leg changed dramatically on the half hour mark with the red card to Maccabi’s Ofek Melika.
Pafos capitalised just ten minutes later with a goal from winger Jaja putting them ahead in the tie.
The reigning Cypriot champions held on to secure their berth in the next round and, more importantly, guarantee themselves of European football this season.
