Champions League: Villarreal vs. Panathinaikos [Live Blog]

By: Peter Katsiris | February 25th, 2009

With the final whistle, Panathinaikos has taken a substantial step into achieving its goal of reaching the next round. The final score from the El Madrigal Stadium is 1-1, and Panathinaikos can be happy with their away goal. Villarreal has plenty of work to do at the OAKA Spyros Louis Stadium when the two sides meet for a replay on March 10th.

Villarreal CF 1-1 Panathinaikos FC
Rossi (pen.) 67′ — Karagounis 59′

90′ + 5′ The referee whistles for full-time here in Spain.

90′ + 4′ We have passed the amount of added time, but the referee has not blown the whistle just yet. Panathinaikos is keen to run down the clock.

90′ +3′ Substitution for Panathinaikos: Mantzios (OUT) Rukavina (IN).

90′ + 1′ Great effort form Cazorla, but the Spaniard has his effort blocked and it rolls out for another Villarreal corner.

90′ The fourth official has signalled there will 4 minutes of stoppage time.

89′ Angel Lopez is shown the yellow for unsportsmanlike conduct off the pitch.

89′ Marcos Senna is booked for a hard tackle on Simao.

88′ Rossi nearly sent the El Madrigal into pandaemonium as he turned past Jose Sarriegi, but could only fire his effort wide of the Panathinaikos goal.

85′ Substitution for Panathinaikos: Karagounis (OUT) Salpigidis (IN).

83′ A corner for Villarreal is interrupted by an injury to Karagounis. It appears the inspirational Greek will make an exit in the coming seconds.

79′ With just over ten minutes left in the match, Villarreal is not content on playing out a draw at the El Madrigal. The last fifteen minutes have developed with the hosts hold 70% ball possession, compared to Panathinaikos weak 30%.

76′ Galinovic is forced to make a save after Bruno’s bouncing effort makes its way on goal.

73′ Rossi is becoming more and more dangerous as Villarreal continues to hunt for a second goal. The Italian turns his defender, before firing a fierce centering pass towards the Panathinaikos goal. Forcing Galinovic to make a reflex save.

70′ Substitution for Villarreal: Ibagaza (OUT) Cani (IN).

69′ A yellow card is issued to Panathinaikos’ Gilberto Silva.

67′ GOAL! Rossi makes no mistake as he cheekily converts the penalty past a fooled Galinovic. It’s now 1-1 in Spain!

66′ The referee has issued a penalty for Villarreal, after Jakub Wawrzyniak took down substitute Robert Pires in the box.

63′ Mantzios narrowly buries Villarreal with a strike, but his footwork can only fool his marker, as Diego Lopez makes a sublime save to keep his side in the match, and the tie.

62′ Substitution for Villarreal: Llorrente (OUT) Nihat (IN).

62′ Substitution for Villarreal: Eguren (OUT) Pires (IN).

61′ The goal has added plenty of pressure on Villarreal, there is more urgency in their attack, but Panathinaikos continues to assert its grip.

59′ GOAL! Giorgos Karagounis has scored a sublime goal. A swift pass from Mantzios is taken with some control by Karagounis, and the Greek midfielder has sent a superb finish past Diego Lopez to give Panathinaikos a 1-0.

57′ Rossi makes a dash towards the box, the ball escapes and tolls towards Cazorla, but the EURO 2008 winner drills his grounded effort just wide of the Panathinaikos goal.

56′ Another effort from Villarreal dies at the end of the play. It’s becoming quite the trend at both ends of the pitch.

52′ Mantzios is the lone striker in the Panathinaikos line-up, and it appears that the Greek striker is being isolated at the front for the Panathinaikos attack. Ten Cate might need to shuffle his line-up if the Dutchman is interested in seeing his side grab a goal in Spain.

50′ Effort for Villarreal as Rossi releases an accurate header, but it was little work for Galinovic who easily catches the looping ball.

46′ Substitution for Panathinaikos: Goumas (OUT) Gabriel (IN).

46′ And we’re back, will there be a goal in the plot?

Villarreal’s best chance came through Rossi, after he received a cross from Santi Cazorla. Galinovic made the save, but it seems this Croatian netminder will be under heavy fire throughout the match.

Panathinaikos’ offensive opportunities have revolved around their Greek midfielder, Karagounis, but he apparently scored. Not sure if the ball did cross the line, but Gilberto Silva looked certain that it did.

So that first half wasn’t exactly the most attractive display of football, but there are a few situations where either ‘keeper’s clean sheet was threatened.

45′ + 1′ It’s halftime at the El Madrigal Stadium as Referee Konrad Plautz whistles for the end of the first half.

45′ + 1′Long distance free-kick for Panathinaikos to wrap up the first frame. Karagounis takes the effort, but it falls in the hands of Diego Lopez.

44′ Time is winding down in the first half, with one minute of stoppage time added.

41′ A replay of that questionable effort from before was just provided, and according to the commentator the ball did cross the line. Personally, I cannot decipher if it did. Surely controversial, and it will be part of headlines in Greece after the final whistle.

38′ Panathinaikos’ Ioannis Goumas is cautioned by the referee, he will miss the replay in Athens.

34′ Panathinaikos continues to make sloppy mistakes in the midfield, forcing Galinovic to be very proactive around the edge of his box.

32′ Karagounis delivers a free-kick, which is straight towards Diego Lopez. Gilberto Silva is quick to protest that the ball cross the line as the Villarreal ‘keeper caught it. Video replay is not helping the cause, and from this angle, it is very hard to tell. It won’t matter though, the referee waves play on.

31′ Ariel Ibagaza produces a fine effort, but his finish is just wide of the Panathinaikos goal. Galinovic is in for a long night if his defenders continue to play like this.

29′ Rapid run for Villarreal just before the half-hour mark, and with Santi Cazorla leading the charge, the Spanish midfielder provides a pinpoint cross for Rossi; however, Galinovic produces a highlight save to deny the young Italian, before the rebound is shot wide by Llorente.

26′ Best chance for Panathinaikos through Karagounis, who first eludes his marker with great footwork, but Diego Lopez is not fooled and makes an easy two-handed save.

25′ Effort for Panathinaikos, but Mantzios is whistled offside just after releasing an on-target header towards ‘keeper Diego Lopez.

23′ Goumas was charged with a foul after challenging Jose Llorente. Effort taken by Senna, but Eguren’s header is just wide of the Panathinaikos goal.

22′ Free-kick for Panathinaikos at the other end. Karagounis delivers the shot but the effort is not worthy of a goal.

20′ Break for Villarreal, but Loukas Vyntra breaks up the play just before Rossi looks to have a shot on goal. The Greece international just made a crucial tackle there.

19′ Free-kick is taken by Rossi, but falls easily into the hands of Galinovic.

18′ Free-kick for Villarreal, 26 metres away from Galinovic’s goal.

17′ There is great contrast in both offenses. Going forward Villarreal looks more fluid than their Greek guests, but the Panathinaikos defender is remaining resolute thus far.

15′ A series of corners for Villarreal now, both are wasted.

13′ Corner for Panathinaikos, Karagounis delivers the ball but Mantzios’ Irabhimovic-like poke is far from testing Diego Lopez.

12′ It’s an interesting battle in the midfield as Marcos Senna locks horns with Giorgos Karagounis.

10′ First real promising possession for Panathinaikos, but a foul called on Evangelos Mantzios, ruins the play. The replay suggests the referee, Konrad Plautz, made the wrong decision.

8′ The fouls are coming in thick and fast, you can tell it’s going to be a physical battle.

6′ Great effort for Villarreal in the last sixty seconds. First Llorente attempt a crease cutting pass but thanks to Panathinaikos ‘keeper Mario Galinovic, and Mikael Nilsson the ball was cleared just before Rossi arrived on the scene.

5′ It’s been about five minutes now and it looks like Villarreal’s speed down the flanks will give Panathinaikos’ defenders some trouble; mainly a one Giuseppe Rossi and Santi Cazorla.

1′ Villarreal is certainly coming out strong, already asserting their grip on the match with a few strong runs into Panathinaikos’ end.

Game time: And we are off. Hope it’s a good game, enjoy everyone.

T minus a few minutes now: Players are heading out of the tunnel, and lining up for the traditional Champions League Anthem. THE CHAMPIONSS…

T minus 5 minutes: It’s times like this that make me love watching Greek TV. From awesome previews highlighting tonight’s game, the derby between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos on the weekend, and hilarious/annoying product advertisements are worth tuning in.

T minus 15 minutes until kickoff: The lineups have been revealed for both clubs; let’s start with the hosts:

Villarreal (Manuel Pelligrini): Diego Lopez, Bruno, Diego Godin, Fabricio Fuentes, Angel, Ariel Ibagaza, Eguren, Senna, Santi Cazorla, Joseba Llorente, Rossi.

Substitutes: Viera, Pires, Cani, Cygan, Mati Fernandez, Nihat Kahveci, Javi Venta.

Panathinaikos (Henk Ten Cate): Galinovic, Jose Sarriegi, Vyntra, Goumas, Wawrzyniak, Simao, Gilberto, Nilsson, Spiropoulos, Karagounis, Mantzios.

Substitutes: Tzorvas, Rukavina, Cleyton, David, Salpigidis, Gabriel, Ivanschitz.

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The UEFA Champions League has returned to its addictive state after a long winter recess, and to celebrate the return of the continental competition, the Greece Blog is hosting its first ever Live Blog as Panathinaikos tackles Villarreal in Spain.

With much at stake for both sides, it is likely to be a night filled with passion, drama, and excitement. So join me, Peter Katsiris, as I keep you updated throughout the ninety minutes at the El Madrigal Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled at 21:45 GR or 2:45 Eastern time, so why not grab a snack, read the match preview, and join me back here for kickoff… (live blog starts just above the sexy Sport24 trailer, and works its way up).

Need more incentive to join me? Take a look at the trailer below…