Greek Side Secures Advantage

Panathinaikos claimed a 1-0 victory over Real Betis in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 clash at Athens Olympic Stadium on March 12, 2026. The match, attended by 27,479 fans, was decided by a late penalty converted by Vicente Taborda.

Key Moments and Controversies

The game saw a dramatic turn of events in the second half. Anass Zaroury was sent off for Panathinaikos in the 59th minute, leaving Betis with a numerical advantage. However, Betis failed to capitalize, and conceded a penalty in the 87th minute, which Taborda successfully converted. Adding to Betis’ woes, Diego Llorente received a second yellow card and was subsequently ejected from the match in the 88th minute.

Panathinaikos played without the suspended Zarúri from the 59th minute, but Betis did not use the power play and in the end conceded after Tabord’s penalty. Llorente received a second yellow card for an additional foul. kicker.de

Match Statistics

• Possession: Panathinaikos 31.5%, Real Betis 68.5%
• Shots on Goal: Panathinaikos 1, Real Betis 6
• Shot Attempts: Panathinaikos 7, Real Betis 13
• Yellow Cards: Panathinaikos 0, Real Betis 3
• Corner Kicks: Panathinaikos 5, Real Betis 7
• Saves: Panathinaikos 6, Real Betis 0

Lineups

Panathinaikos

• Lafont
• Katris
• Ingason
• Calabria
• Kyriakopoulos
• Cerin
• Sanches
• Zaroury
• Taborda
• Tetteh
• Pellistri

Real Betis

• Pau López
• Natan
• Ricardo Rodríguez
• Ruibal
• Llorente
• Fornals
• Abde Ezzalzouli
• Altimira
• Roca
• Antony
• Hernández

What’s Next?

The second leg will be played at La Cartuja, where Real Betis will need to overcome the 1-0 deficit to advance to the quarter-finals.

FAQ

What was the final score?

Panathinaikos defeated Real Betis 1-0.

Who scored the winning goal?

Vicente Taborda scored the winning goal from a penalty in the 87th minute.

Were there any red cards issued?

Yes, Anass Zaroury of Panathinaikos and Diego Llorente of Real Betis were both sent off.