Malmö FF Analyst Details Tactical approach too Panathinaikos Clash
MALMÖ, SWEDEN – Ahead of their UEFA Europa League fixture against Panathinaikos FC, Malmö FF analyst Mak Pakhei has outlined a detailed scouting report, emphasizing the Greek side’s cautious playing style and individual quality. Pakhei’s assessment comes following a turbulent period for Panathinaikos, which included a recent managerial change, adding complexity to Malmö’s preparation.
Pakhei explained that Panathinaikos underwent a significant overhaul during the summer transfer window, effectively fielding a new team this season. The club recently appointed Rafa Benítez as their new coach on approximately July 23rd, having dismissed their previous manager, and have played three matches under his leadership. “We’ve looked a bit at how to play with the old coach but also how to play with the new one,” Pakhei stated. “You haven’t had many opportunities to train under Rafa Benítez so we try to look a lot at the players and what kind of character they have. We think they will more or less play as they did before.”
The analysis reveals Panathinaikos’ preference for a low-risk approach. “They don’t like to take risks in the plays,” Pakhei noted. “Such as, if they have the opportunity to hit a long ball behind the back line, they don’t do it if they realize there are risks involved. Even in the defensive game, they are a little cautious, they don’t like to press hard with the whole team.” He anticipates a conventional 4-2-2 formation under Benítez, mirroring a style known for its solidity.
Pakhei drew a comparison to Allsvenskan side Halmstads BK, acknowledging Panathinaikos’ superior player quality and coverage of the pitch, as well as their more potent counter-attacking threat. He also cautioned that a congested schedule could influence the match’s dynamic depending on potential player rotations.
In terms of individual threats, Pakhei highlighted right winger Teté and central midfielder Pedro Chirivella, the latter a former Liverpool player. “Teté constantly tries to attack from their right wing and challenge one on one. Chirivella always tries to move the ball forward.We’ll have to watch out for those two.”
Pakhei also assessed Panathinaikos’ quality relative to previous Europa League opposition, stating they are individually stronger than Dinamo Zagreb, citing the experience of captain Anastasios Bakasetas (79 international caps for Greece) and striker Karol Swiderski (46 caps for Poland). Though, he emphasized the differing team structures between the two sides.
