Europa League Preview: Panathinaikos – Standard Liege

Having eliminated Roma in the previous round, Pana cannot afford to allow their intensity to slip against the Belgians...

By Robin Bairner

Mar 10, 2010 9:37:00 AM

CL: Standard Liege - AZ Alkmaar, Niklas Moisander vs. Milan Jovanovic (foto PROSHOTS)

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CL: Standard Liege - AZ Alkmaar, Niklas Moisander vs. Milan Jovanovic (foto PROSHOTS)

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Kick Off: Thursday, March 11, 2010. 21:05 CET
Olympic Stadium, Athens

Conquerors Of Roma

Greek giants Panathinaikos are enjoying a promising campaign, having reached the summit of their domestic league and qualifying for the last 16 of the Europa League, in which they will face a challenge posed to them by Standard Liege.

It’s not been plain sailing for the Athens club, who have flirted with disaster at times this term, ultimately parting company with Dutch boss Henk ten Cate back in December due to an unconvincing run of results. Nikos Nioplias’ appointment in the hot seat seems to have allowed the Greeks to dramatically turn the corner, and they are now flying on all fronts.

Under Nioplias they have won eight of their 12 league encounters, though they did suffer a double blip in the middle of February which has since been recovered thanks to positive results against Panionios and Levadiakos. It has been in the Europa League that they have made their biggest impression, though.

When Roma visited the Olympic Stadium, the Giallorossi were in impressive form. They were well dispatched by Pana, who claimed a 3-2 victory thanks to a two goals in the last six minutes. In Italy, a terrific spell just before half-time helped guide the Greeks to a second 3-2 success, easing them through to the last 16.

Now with a winnable tie, the Prasinoi are looking to make a decisive move towards the final eight.

Mixed Signals

While things are going well for the home team, it is an entirely different story for Standard, who will not be in Europe next term unless they can quickly improve upon their mediocre recent form.

In the Belgian domestic game they find themselves seventh in the league, miles off the pace of Club Brugge and Anderlecht, though still sufficiently in touch to have a chance of success when the league splits into its complicated post-season.

Having been eliminated by Arsenal and Olympiacos from the Champions League, Standard claimed the consolation prize of a Europa League spot, despite having claimed only one victory in Europe’s gold medal event.

Their previous journey to Greece this season ended in a 2-1 defeat, though if their fixture against Olympiacos has been played over two legs, they would have emerged victorious as they won 2-0 at home. With this in mind, they can at least command some confidence ahead of Thursday’s fixture.

Standard, however, have recorded only one win in their last ten European away games, that coming against Partizan in the group stages last term, so the prospects for a victory in Greece look very slim indeed. Instead, the target of the Belgians must be to keep the game tight and hope to shock their opponents next week.

Yes Sir! | 'Le Djib' Accepts The Mission At Hand

FORM GUIDE

Panathinaikos

WON 3-0 (h) Levadiakos (Super League, March 7)

WON 2-0 (a) Panionios (Super League, February 28)

WON 3-2 (a) Roma (Europa League, February 25)

LOST 2-1 (a) PAOK (Super League, February 21)

WON 3-2 (h) Roma (Europa League, February 22)

Standard

DREW 0-0 (a) Red Bull Salzburg (Europa League, February 25)

LOST 2-1 (a) Club Brugge (First League, February 21)

WON 3-2 (h) Red Bull Salzburg (Europa League, February 22)

WON 1-0 (h) Westerlo (First League, February 14)

LOST 1-0 (a) Racing Genk (First League, February 7)

TEAM NEWS

Panathinaikos

Antonis Petropoulos has complained of adductor pains and has not trained as a precautionary measure, while Giorgos Machlelis has had tonsillitis. Sotiris Ninis, Loukas Vintra, Gabriel, Giourkas Seitaridis, Giorgos Machlelis and Orestis Karnezis did not take part at the weekend.

Probable Starting XI: Tzorvas; Marinos, Sarriegi, Kante, Spiropoulos; Katsouranis, Gilberto; Salpingidis, Leto, Karagounis; Cisse

Standard

Youngster Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo was tipped for promotion to the first team but a stress fracture will keep him sidelined for several weeks. Felipe and Gohi Bi Zoro Cyriac are also long-term injury problems.

Probable Starting XI: Bolat; Camozzato, Sarr, Ramos, Pocognoli; Witsel, Nicaise, Defour; De Camargo, Jovanovic; Mbokani

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Panathinaikos

Djibril Cisse’s efforts for Pana in recent time have earned him a long awaited recall to the France national side. The former Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool goal-getter has been in excellent form for the Greek side since making an €8 million switch from Provence in the summer, scoring three goals as Roma were eliminated. He will have to be closely marshalled by the Belgians if they want to earn a positive result.

Standard

Axel Witsel is one of the great hopes of Belgian football, and the 21-year-old lived up to his billing in the previous round, when his double against Red Bull Salzburg helped Standard to an excellent victory at home. If his club are to excel on the road, they will look to the promising midfielder, who has already won numerous caps for his nation, to be their driving force.

PREDICTION

Given the recent form of the Greeks, they have to be considered healthy favourites going into this game. They have been scoring freely in recent times and will want to ease their passage through to the last 16 with a strong win, though the Belgians will be going all out to stay involved in this fixture at a tough venue.

Panathinaikos 3-0 Standard Liege

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