Panathinaikos downs Grasshoppers 3-0, Yagoubis shines

Panathinaikos secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Swiss side Grasshoppers in a friendly match, demonstrating a solid performance that pleased coach Thomas Nystrup. After a nervous start, the Greek team gradually increased their tempo and dominated the encounter, exhibiting aspects of the Danish coach's tactical approach.

Nystrup opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with De Fry making his unofficial debut in central defense. While Grasshoppers began more assertively, Panathinaikos soon found their rhythm, turning the game into a one-sided affair. The "Greens" created successive chances, with Kyriacopoulos and Tetey threatening in the 17th and 18th minutes, and Zarouri and Tetey missing close-range opportunities.

The breakthrough came early in the second half when Yagoubis scored in the 48th minute with a powerful shot from outside the box after an impressive solo run. Panathinaikos maintained absolute control, and Zarouri extended the lead to 2-0 in the 70th minute. Tamborda sealed the 3-0 victory in the 88th minute, capping off a beautiful team move. This goal continued Tamborda's impressive streak, as he also scored in the team's previous three preparation friendlies.

Despite showing some fatigue from daily training sessions, the team exhibited cohesion and good ball movement, preventing Grasshoppers from posing a significant threat. Nystrup also utilized the match to test new tactical options, with Kalabria playing as a left-back in the second half and young Biniaris coming on later.