Panathanaikos vs Inter Milan

Inter Out To Avoid Another False Start

Over the last two seasons, Inter have always confirmed their European jinx immediately on their debut in the Champions League. Two years ago, they started with an away game against Sporting Lisbon, which they lost 1-0, and the same thing happened a year ago away to Fenerbahce, who completely outplayed the Nerazzurri.

On both occasions, Inter ultimately managed to qualify from their group, but never got past the last 16. Coach Jose Mourinho will want to make sure the Nerazzurri don’t repeat those false starts as he hopes to see his team assert themselves on the European stage immediately.

Last weekend, the Italian champions obtained their first league victory of the new season in a testing match against Catania. They went 1-0 down against the run of play just before the break, but managed to equalise only a minute later with a lucky deflection off a trademark cross by new signing Ricardo Quaresma. Going into half-time, however, they were handed another blow as midfielder Sulley Muntari was sent off for a slap in a Catania player’s face.

Despite playing the entire second half with a numerical disadvantage, the Nerazzurri won the match thanks to an own goal three minutes into the restart. Although there was some luck involved, Inter still showed character to come back from behind, especially after being reduced to ten men, and it’s these type of victories that strengthen a team’s group spirit.

Now Mourinho will hope to get some momentum going and win his first European outing with Inter as well. The Portuguese coach will hope to see his team give a convincing performance to show president Massimo Moratti and the fans that he has what it takes to make a Inter a winning team in Europe as well.

Compared to last season, when they were eliminated by Liverpool before the quarter-finals, the Nerazzurri have added the likes of Amantino Mancini (from Roma) and the aforementioned Quaresma (from Porto) to their squad to add some flair and imagination. It was indeed a lack of those unpredictable components to which Inter’s failings in Europe were often attributed.

And of course, with the arrival of Mourinho they now have a coach with a proven track record in Europe, who has won both the Uefa Cup and the Champions League with Porto and who reached the last four twice with Chelsea. The ingredients seem to be all in place for Inter to lift their first European Cup/Champions League trophy since 1965. That said, considering their very average record in the competition in recent years, a place in the semifinals would already be a big step forward.

Panathinaikos Out To Survive Group Stage

Greek giants Panathinaikos have made their return to the Champions League following a two-year absence from Europe’s biggest stage. A third-place finish in the Greek league last season was enough for them to enter the qualifying rounds for Europe’s premier club competition, which they reached after disposing of Dinamo Tbilisi and Sparta Prague.

With former Ajax and Chelsea assistant coach Henk Ten Cate now at the helm, they will want to forget about a series of disappointing seasons both domestically and internationally (they haven’t won the Greek title since 2004). In a group containing Inter, Werder Bremen, and debutants Anorthosis Famagusta, they stand a very good chance of making it past the group stages, which they failed to do in their last three attempts between 2003 and 2006.

The last time they faced an Italian opponent in a home game will not conjure up happy memories for ‘Pana’. In the 2005/06 season, they welcomed Udinese in their penultimate group match, and lost 2-1, which effectively meant they wouldn’t even be able to continue in the Uefa Cup. That was also the only time they have ever lost to an Italian side at home in the Champions League.

Ten Cate’s side have started their domestic season with mixed results, having lost their opening match away to AEK (2-1) and beaten Panthrakikos 3-0 at home in their second match last weekend. Their performance in the latter game will certainly have given them the right confidence ahead of this home match against the Italian champions.

Certainly the atmosphere in the stadium and Panathinaikos’ motivation will give Inter some problems, but the Nerazzurri obviously have a much better squad and they are undeniably the favorites here.



FORM GUIDE

Panathinaikos

13/09 (Greek Super League): Panathinaikos-Panthrakikos 3-0

01/09 (Greek Super League): AEK-Panathinaikos 2-1

26/08 (Champions League): Panathinaikos-Sparta Prague 1-0

13/08 (Champions League): Sparta Prague-Panathinaikos 1-2

06/08 (Champions League): Dinamo Tbilisi-Panathinaikos 0-0

Inter

13/09 (Serie A): Inter-Catania 2-1

30/08 (Serie A): Sampdoria-Inter 1-1

24/08 (Italian Supercup): Inter-Roma 2-2 (8-7 after penalties)

15/08 (Friendly): Benfica-Inter 0-0 (4-5 after penalties)

09/08 (Friendly): Ajax-Inter 0-1



TEAM NEWS

Panathinaikos

To be confirmed.

Possible formation (4-4-2): Galinovic; Μattos, Νinis, Goumas, Souza; Salpingidis, Gilberto Silva, Gabriel, Simao; Ivanschitz, Spyropoulos.

Inter

Defenders Walter Samuel, Christian Chivu, and midfielder Dejan Stankovic are out injured.

Possible formation (4-3-3): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Maxwell; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Muntari; Quaresma, Ibrahimovic, Mancini.



PLAYERS TO WATCH

Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos)

The Brazilian international is undoubtedly the most recognisable and internationally experienced player in Panathinaikos' squad. After no less than six years at Arsenal, the 31-year-old made an unusual move to the Greek league last summer, but at least now he will be sure of getting significant playing time, if not a guaranteed starting spot (which wasn't the case with the Gunners).

Ricardo Quaresma (Inter)

The Portuguese winger dazzled the San Siro crowd in his home debut for Inter against Catania, in which one of his trademark ‘trivela’ crosses was deflected past the opposing goalkeeper to equalise a 1-0 disadvantage. The former Porto and Barcelona star now seems to have the maturity and self-belief to make his mark at a big European club. His unpredictability, imagination, and superb shooting and crossing may provide Inter with that little something extra to make them succeed in Europe.



PREDICTION

A draw wouldn't be a terrible result for Inter, who are desperate to avoid disappointing their fans yet again on their Champions League debut. Playing Greek teams away from home is always tough, and this time will be no different for the Nerazzurri.

Panathinaikos-Inter 1-1

i agree with the match preview that Inter for the last couple of years always face a tough start especially playin outside Milano but i hope this season the players will be lookin for a better start n let's see Mourinho's effect on the European side of Inter.
i think Inter will manage to get out with the 3 points but i aint expectin an easy game , it will be a very close win like 1-0 or 2-1 somethin like this.

La Gazzetta Dello Sport expected formation n startin line up for both teams

Mancini's goal is givin us the lead at half time
the goal was a beauty and Thanx 4 Ibrahimovic's great effort after dribblin by 3 defenders n givin it 2 Mancini in a scorin position n Mancini's last touch was perfect.

Panathanaikos 0-1 Inter Milan

Adrianoooooooooooooooooooo
2-0 for Inter
the return of L'imperatore

Adriano made a spectacular comeback and Amantino Mancini was also on target as Inter won 2-0 away to Panathinaikos. It was L'Imperatore's first goal for his club since a 1-0 at Reggina on October 20, 2007. With Anorthosis' 0-0 draw in Bremen, the Nerazzurri go clear at the top of Group B.

Jose Mourinho was told when taking charge that he had to win the Champions League where Roberto Mancini had failed and that journey began in Greece. He fielded an all-attack trident and welcomed Ivan Cordoba back for his first start in seven months.

Panathinaikos included former Nerazzurri man Giorgios Karagounis and ex-Arsenal star Gilberto Silva. Mattos had the first chance with a powerful snapshot off target.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic sprung the offside trap on Douglas Maicon's through ball and was one-on-one with the goalkeeper after 11 minutes, but incredibly rolled a weak finish well wide from an excellent scoring position.

Ibra turned provider for Ricardo Quaresma, whose fierce strike with the outside of his right foot was fingertipped round the post by Galinovic.

The Swede went on a fine solo effort, juggling the ball between feet and thigh, before his rocket was parried by Galinovic at full stretch.

Inter finally got their goal and Ibrahimovic was decisive for Amantino Mancini's strike. Ibra held up a long pass forward, used his strength to ride two Nilsson challenges and rolled across for the totally unmarked Mancini to side-foot home.

Panathinaikos fought back immediately and Julio Cesar fingertipped a Moon snapshot over the bar, but lost Karagounis to a calf injury, replaced by Ivanschitz.

Moon again tested Julio Cesar from an improbable angle, but there was a big scare on 42 minutes when the determined South African Moon thumped the crossbar with a left-foot shot deflected up into the air off Marco Materazzi's ankle.

Maicon was booked within seconds of the restart for a sliding tackle on Ivanschitz, but the Panathinaikos player hit him right back soon after. The home side had a good chance on 53 minutes, as Cleyton curled just past the post.

Luis Figo and Sulley Ali Muntari replaced Quaresma and Patrick Vieira, as Panathinaikos began to increase the pressure and push Inter back. Julio Cesar only spotted a long Ivanschitz free kick at the last second as it floated through the sea of players and got down brilliantly to palm it away from the danger zone.

Mancini's volley from a Figo assist was charged down for a corner by Silva, then a free kick was passed out for Muntari's powerful but inaccurate strike.

Materazzi missed Maxwell's pass and allowed Hristoudoupoulos a clean effort that Julio Cesar fingertipped round the base of the near post.

Adriano came on for Mancini in the final minutes and made a spectacular comeback in the Inter shirt! He was sent clear by Ibrahimovic on the counter and kept his cool to cannon a powerful left-foot finish under the crossbar from nine yards! He had been on the field for less than two minutes when he got his name on the scoresheet. It was the Brazilian's first competitive appearance for the club in a year and he hadn't netted in the Champions League since the 2-1 win over Villarreal on March 29, 2006.

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Panathinaikos: Galinovic; Vindra, Simao, Goumas, Nillson (Hristodouloupoulos 72); Moon (Souza 82), Gilberto Silva; Mattos, Karagounis (Ivanschitz 36), Clayton; Salpingidis

Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Maxwell; Zanetti, Vieira (Muntari 63), Cambiasso; Quaresma (Figo 62), Ibrahimovic, Mancini (Adriano 82)

Ref: Mejuto Gonzalez (Spa)

Inter looked great 2day and many positive points were 2 be mentioned with the 3 points we got 2day from Greece

1- The return of Ivan Cordoba , he had a great game n formed a very solid partnership with Matrix and he didnt look like a player who was out injured for 7 months at all.

2- Adriano
he played about 8 minutes only but he was very highly motivated that these 8 minutes were quiet enough for him 2 score and prove himself n return to scorin after long absence and now he will create problems for Mourinho inorder to pick the startin 3 player in the front line

3- An Inter with a very strong character even if we were playin away from Milano n in a very difficult atmosphere in Athens in a nearlly sold out stadium against Panathanaikos a really good team not that weak as many ppl expected and this is something we didnt see during Mancini's period we got used 2 Inter always havin a difficult time in away games probably a loss and sometimes a draw.

i dont want 2 forget the great efforts of Vieira even if his fitness couldnt help him play 90 minutes but he gave great 70 minutes , Maicon was impressive as usual , Zanetti n Cambiasso with their same constant great form , Maxwell was even better n was confident and the Matrix was as solid as a rock 2day.
The whole team was great and this is why i'm so happy
we didnt just had a great result , but also a great performance.