Panathinaikos owner Giannis Alafouzos attended the team's training session on Sunday, August 30, as the club completed preparations for their away match against Levadiakos in Livadeia. Danish manager Jacob Neestrup included new signings Imran Louza and Kings Kangwa in the matchday squad for the first time.
The fixture against Levadiakos will be the first championship match of the season for Panathinaikos. The club's scheduled opening matchday fixture against Kifisia was postponed after Panathinaikos submitted a formal request.
Alafouzos watched the full training program alongside technical director Stefanos Kotsolis. The club owner held discussions with Kotsolis regarding transfer matters before speaking with manager Neestrup.
Squad selection and unavailable players
Neestrup will be without several squad members for the trip to Livadeia. Zaroury, Tsapras, Chirivella, Kristiansen, Ingason and Pantelidis were not available for selection by the Danish coach.
However, Louza and Kangwa have been called up for the first time. The squad named for the match includes Peña, Chaves, Kotsaris, Calabria, Kyriakopoulos, Katris, De Vrij, Van Drongelen, Palmer-Brown, Camara, Kontouris, Mpiniaris, Kangwa, Taborda, Jagusic, Louza, Pellistri, Andino, Kyriopoulos, Garcia, Tetei, Rastoder and Dessers.
Background on the club and competition
Panathinaikos is one of the most prominent sports clubs in Greece. Founded in 1908 and based in the capital city of Athens, the team competes in the top tier of Greek football, the Super League Greece, and is known colloquially as the Greens. The club owner, Alafouzos, oversees the green PAE organization that operates the professional football team.
Opponents Levadiakos are based in Livadeia, a city located in central Greece. The team competes in the Super League Greece alongside major Greek clubs. Technical director Kotsolis is a former goalkeeper who took over technical operations at the club, working alongside Neestrup, a Danish manager who previously coached FC Copenhagen.
Following the training session on Sunday, Panathinaikos travels to face Levadiakos for their opening game of the league season.
