Panathinaikos ended their mixed 2018/19 SuperLeague campaign in impressive style with a 4-0 home win over Panetolikos at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday.

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A powerful first-half display which featured goals from Tasos Chatzigiovannis from the penalty spot, and a double from Italian striker Federico Macheda put Giorgos Donis’ youthful team in firm command at half-time.

Dimitris Emmanouilidis added some gloss to the scoreline with a late fourth goal as the Greens ended a season which had promised much but delivered little in the end in the best possible way.

Having started the season in impressive style with a squad full of academy graduates and Greek youth players, Donis’ team ran out of steam somewhat in the second half of the season and barring surprises elsewhere, will end the season in eighth place after collecting 36 points from their 30 matches.

THE MATCH

Panathinaikos began the match eager to please their home fans and went on the attack from the first whistle, so it came as no surprise when Ergys Kace burst into the box and was brought down by Brazilian defender Arghus in the 14th minute.

Chatzigiovannis took responsibility for the spot-kick, and the young PAO winger had no problems beating Panetolikos keeper Nikos Giannakopoulos twice, after the first effort was ordered to be retaken for encroaching.

Just five minutes later it was 2-0 when Fanis Tzandaris played the ball through for Macheda, who took it in his stride before beating Giannakopoulos with a diagonal shot in clinical fashion.

Panathinaikos were in total control at that stage and there was little to suggest that the visitors could get back into the game, even if they were playing quite an open and attacking game.

Macheda was denied by the legs of Giannakopoulos in the 38th minute, but the former Manchester United frontman was not to be denied two minutes later when he was set up nicely by debutant Vangelis Theocharis.

Panetolikos finally awoke from their slumbers in the second half and began to press further up the pitch, but still chances were few and far between for the men from Agrinio. A half-chance from Adrián Lucero was saved by Greens goalkeeper Konstantinos Kotsaris after 61 minutes, while another Lucero cross was missed by his team-mates at the 70 minute mark.

Panathinaikos had the last word when substitute Emmanouilidis rammed home the rebound after Giannakopoulos had blocked a Argyris Kampetsis shot to make it 4-0 and spark jubilant celebrations among the home fans again.



HIGHLIGHTS: PANATHINAIKOS - PANETOLIKOS