Panathinaikos quarantee progress in Champions League

Uefa Match report by Soso Kotoreishvili - Wednesday 6th 2008f August 2008

A goalless draw at FC Dinamo Tbilisi was enough for Panathinaikos FC to ease into UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, where they will met AC Sparta Praha.

Comfortable progression
The Greek club's comprehensive 3-0 first-leg victory gave them a comfortable advantage heading into the decider and despite the Georgian champions creating a number of first-half chances, they could not convert any and then had Nikoloz Pirtskhalava sent off 15 minutes from time.

Early opportunities
The hosts were missing team captain David Digmelashvili and playmaker Georgi Merebashvili through injury but started brightly with striker Ilija Spasojević being denied by away goalkeeper Mario Galinović in the early stages. Then Georgi Nergadze missed a great headed chance from a corner while David Odikadze went close twice from long-distance.

Reinforcement
Panathinaikos coach Henk ten Cate introduced Gilberto after the break to reinforce his midfield and the move shored up the visitors with Dinamo having few efforts on goal. Pirtskhalava was then dismissed for two bookable offences, the second of which for a foul on Giorgos Karagounis, which effectively ended the home side's hopes and despite having a couple more half chances, they could not take advantage allowing Panathinaikos to progress and set up a tie against Sparta, who they defeated twice in the 2001/02 second group stage.

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