déjà vu from the trefoil lineup, 204 days after doubling down at Toumba

The number of times Ivan Jovanovic has kept the same line-up in three consecutive matches for Panathinaikos during this season can be counted on the fingers of one hand. In general, the Serbian technician is not a coach who likes to make small or large changes in his formations, and always prefers stability, cohesion and homogeneity, but this is how things went this year in the “clover leaf” with few injuries, viruses and cards that have become part of daily life in Korobe, who is forced It is the same to change at least one or two faces in the starting line-up every two or three matches.

In the two-week break for the Easter holidays – and especially in the last week before returning to competition – the Panathinaikos coach had the opportunity to see (after a very long time) that his absent book remains “white”, in addition to Aitor, Jania, Troyer and Frocco, i.e. the perpetually injured that season. In the most opportune time, as the season is now entering its final phase and the battle for the title will be decided within the six remaining matches until the end of the ruthless Stoiximan Super League play-offs Sunday-Wednesday-Sunday that will span the next three weeks.

And because life sometimes goes … in rings, fate brought it even 24 hours before the (decisive) “battle” with PAOK in Tumba (Sunday 4/23, 20:00 NOVASPORTS PRIME, live broadcast from SPORT24’s Matchcenter), that The Serbian coach is preparing a lineup quite reminiscent of the one that took the big double (2-1 with an upset) at the duo’s northern headquarters on the evening of October 2nd.

Yes, the hero of that great victory, Aitor Candalabedra, will be out again, having ruptured the cruciate ligament in his left knee three weeks later and is now putting the last “throttles” on his rehabilitation program in order to get back healthy and ready to start the season. summer ready. However, the rest of the “ten” will be “there” as the main team, as well as Sebastian Palacios, who was knocked out in this match due to a sprained ankle.

Bernard, Facundo and “Magna”

In that first meeting of the year between the two teams in Toumba (2/10), Bernard Duarte made his debut in the Panathinaikos squad after appearing twice as a substitute in matches against AEK and PAS Ioannina, playing as a right winger instead of “Toko” until the 90th minute, when He was replaced by Ganeas, with corresponding internal changes.

Facundo Sanchez, as now, would have taken the starting jersey at the right end of the defence, due to a muscle injury to Yanis Kotsiras and kept his place (as he will do on Sunday, after his flawless derby match with Olympiakos), in a very difficult match against Andrija Živković and Adelino Vieirania.

Hordur Magnusson returned to the “treble-lobes” line-up in that match against PAOK, for the first time since the debut against Ionikos and the injury he sustained, with Jovanović investing in the left-footer’s ability to lift the lines high and to be the first “step” in the “building” of the “alfalfa”. And the Icelander to make his debut, really cool and touching with the ‘Greens.

Schenkefeld and the “difficult” trio in midfield

Bart Schenkefeld had just returned from a back injury (fractured vertebrae) that kept him “out” for a month, counting down 13 minutes as a substitute against PAS Ioannina, but in one of the most pivotal matches of the season, Jovanović brought him back into action. The starting line-up formed an excellent pairing with Magnuson.

And the “difficult” trio of Robin Perth, Dimitris Korbelis and Adam Sherin in midfield, who had already presented their credentials in the big game against AEK in Leoforos (11/9, round 4), … the difference in the second half and was one of the “keys” ( Together with Aitor) from the dominance of Panathinaikos and a great upset.

All of the above, along with Alberto Brignoli, Huancar and Andraz Sporar who regained his confidence and scored goals in the last two matches against Aris and Olympiacos, will be key again on Sunday evening in Toumba.

Déjà vu or the almost perfect ‘cycle’ after 204 days! With Panathinaikos looking for the same result to make another (huge) move on this year’s title…