This newsitem has been supplied by PSV.nl
Ahead of the UEFA Champions League tie against Panathinaikos the PSV squad trained on the pitch of the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium in Athens. The emphasis was traditionally laid on finishing on target. Just one look at the stadium is enough to understand why the UEFA does not allow Panathinaikos to use the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium for European games any longer. The stadium, situated in the centre of Athens, is old and delapidated, wich is actually at the same time quite charming. But it certainly looks old and there is little space, which does not enhance safety. The fans are known to be aggressive and noisy, so that many police officers will have to be on duty. It will be the last time Panathinaikos entertain a European opponent in this stadium, but they will play their domestic games in here. Quite a few PSV fans have travelled to Athens and they saw how the strikers finished crosses from the flanks at training.Jefferson Farfán was given praised for the way he beat keeper Edwin Zoetebier. For Ibrahim Afellay it meant the first Champions League training session on foreign soil. Journalists and sponsors also watched the training session, just like PSV Chairman Rob Westerhof and General Manager Rob Ribbers. It was not as warm in Athens as one might have thought, but the weather was quite pleasant all the same. PSV now face the challenge to grab one point at least, so that they will progress to the knock-out stages as group E winners.
