Panathinaikos stunned Marseille on penalties to reach the Champions League play-off round on Tuesday.
The game did not start well for Panathinaikos, as they conceded a goal in just the 2nd minute. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wiped out Panathinaikos’ 1-0 first-leg lead in the third qualifying round with his first Marseille goal at the Stade Velodrome.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker completed the turnaround in first-half added time by turning home his second goal from Jonathan Clauss’ low cross.
But there was a late twist, as just seconds after Matteo Guendouzi had seen a strong penalty appeal waved away, the Marseille midfielder was penalised for handball by VAR and Fotis Ioannidis dispatched the resulting 99th-minute spot-kick to force extra time.
Vitinha had a goal ruled out by VAR for an offside against Ismaila Sarr in the build-up as the Greeks held on for penalties.
Filip Mladenovic stroked home the winning penalty as Panathinaikos won the shoot-out 5-3, with goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli’s earlier save from Guendouzi proving crucial.
Panathinaikos will next face Braga, with the winners to secure their first group-stage appearance in over a decade.
Marseille – Panathinaikos 2-1
Goals: 2′ Aubameyang (Marseille), 45’+1 Aubameyang (Marseille), 90’+9 pen. Ioannidis (Panathinaikos)
The penalty shootout:
0-1 goal by Ioannidis (Panathinaikos)
0-1 Brignoli took Geduzzi’s penalty
0-2 goals Bernard (Panathinaikos)
1-2 goals for Veretou (Marseille)
1-3 goals by Kleinheisler (Panathinaikos)
Sarr 2-3 goals (Marseille)
2-4 goals Palasios (Panathinaikos)
Bithynia (Marseille) 3-4 goals
Mladenovic (Panathinaikos) 3-5 goals
Yellow cards: Aubameyang, Veretou – Gedvai, Brignoli, Vaiannidis, Mancini, Ruben, Cerin
Red Cards: –
Marseille (Marthelino): Pau Lopez (120’+3 Blanco), Clos, Zigo, Beba, Lodi, Ronzier, Verretou, Char, Ediage (68′ Guedouzi), Unahi (59′ Arit), Aubameyang (80′ Vitinia).
Panathinaikos (Ivan Jovanovic): Brignoli, Vagiannidis, Gedvai, Magnusson, Huancar (70′ Mladenovic), Ruben, Vilena (70′ Cerin), Djuricic (63′ Bernard), Mancini (106′ Kleinheisler), Verbic (46′ Palacios). , Sporar (63′ Ioannidis).
