Panathinaikos are out of Europe after being outclassed 3-0 at home on Wednesday night by a far superior Barcelona side.
The Catalans secured their qualification to the next round of the Champions League but the defeat meant that the Greens were consigned to last place in Group D, below Barcelona, Rubin Kazan and FC Copenhagen.
In Josualdo Ferreira’s first game in charge of Panathinaikos, the Greens started well but were no match for the Spaniards as the game progressed.
It is questionable how much Ferreira will have garnered from the game given that Barcelona are far superior to any side PAO will face in the Super League.
Nevertheless, some of the home side’s players did their most to impress the Portuguese, especially goalkeeper Alexis Tzorvas who pulled off several top class saves.
For a brief period it looked as if Panathinaikos could pull off a shock – Djibril Cisse had a glorious chance to break the deadlock in the 20th minute but he fired his effort straight at Victor Valdes when one-on-one.
But that signalled the end of the home side’s dominance and Barca made him pay just seven minutes later as Pedro latched onto a Dani Alves pass to slot home from a tight angle.
Lionel Messi tormented the Greens all night at the Olympic Stadium and it was the Argentinean who started and finished a wonderful move in the 62nd minute.
Pedro added to his tally following another fine move seven minutes later, to silence the sell-out home crowd, many of whom must have secretly admired some of the inspiring play by the visitors.
Defeat for Panathinaikos, in new coach Jesualdo Ferreira’s first game in charge, meant the end of European football this season for the Greek champions.
“This was a great opportunity to see how my players would react against such a big team,” Ferreira said.
“I would of course liked us to continue our European campaign, but now we have to use all our strength to defend our league title in Greece — that is our obligation.”
Greece midfielder Costas Katsouranis said he had nothing but praise for the visitors.
“We stayed in the game for as long as they were two goal up,” he said. “But once agvain they showed what a class club they are.”
Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi briefly interrupted the match in the second half after fans threw flares onto the track. Fans were repeatedly warned by match organizers not to use laser pointers, while two youths ran onto the pitch in the second half.
