Panathinaikos draws 1-1 with CSKA 1948 at OAKA
The "Greens" were held to a 1-1 draw against the Bulgarians in the first leg of the 3rd qualifying round.
The first match between Panathinaikos and CSKA 1948 at the Olympic Stadium of Athens "Spiros Louis" ended in a draw, as part of the 3rd matchday of the UEFA Conference League qualifiers. Jacob Neestrup's team had the initiative, but failed to convert their superiority into a victory ahead of the return leg.
Lead with Jagusic and immediate response
Panathinaikos started the game strongly and managed to open the scoring in the 21st minute. After a pass from Santino Andino, Adriano Jagusic sent the ball into the net, making it 1-0 for the hosts. However, the reaction of the Bulgarian team was immediate. In the 31st minute, Georgi Rusev capitalized on Hector Cuellar's pass and equalized to 1-1, a score with which the two teams went to the dressing rooms for the break.
Pressure without result in the second half
In the second half, the "Shamrock" tried to regain the lead, dominating the field. Panathinaikos finished the match with 62.51% ball possession and a total of 16 attempts (5 of which were on target), while also winning 8 corners.
The coach of the "Greens" refreshed his team by making all five substitutions, bringing on Vicente Taborda, Adam Cerin, Anass Zaroury, Sotiris Kontouris, and Giorgos Katris.
Despite the attacking mood and 80 dangerous attacks, CSKA 1948's defense, under the guidance of Yuriy Vasev, withstood the pressure. The final whistle from Italian referee Matteo Marchetti sealed the final 1-1, leaving the accounts open for the two teams for the second leg.