Our team suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Atromitos in the fourth and final friendly match of the pre-season training camp in Poland. Despite the result, the team produced an encouraging performance, particularly in the first half, where it controlled proceedings and created several goal-scoring opportunities through Werton, Pajé and Effaghe. However, as in the previous friendly, the chances went unfinished. Defensively, Aris was equally impressive, preventing Atromitos from registering a meaningful threat on Vana Alves' goal throughout the opening 45 minutes.
Aris once again made a strong start, with intense pressing and taking control of the game from the outset. Vana Alves started in goal, with Yago, Matysik, Lele and Correia forming the back four. Sarfo operated as the holding midfielder, with Charalambous and Nikolić playing ahead of him. Up front, the attacking trio consisted of the two Brazilians, Werton and Pajé, on the wings, with Effaghe leading the line.
At half-time, the coaching staff made a complete change of personnel, introducing an entirely new starting eleven. Zadro took his place in goal, protected by a defensive line of Sané, Andreas Demetriou, Loukoumbar and Chatzigiannis, who was replaced by César in the 75th minute. Akampa played in the holding midfield role, with Galyata and Neokleous ahead of him, the latter making way for Triminitis in the 85th minute. Gaustad featured on the right wing, El Allachi on the left, and Pourikkos led the attack. Loukoumbar was forced off in the 80th minute after sustaining an ankle injury and was replaced by Kassianidis.
The second half did not mirror the team's first-half display, as Atromitos started more aggressively. In the 55th minute, Tsigaras scored from close range after Zadro had produced an excellent initial save. Aris struggled to regain control of the tempo, and in the 86th minute Akampa conceded a penalty. Tsantimas stepped up to take the spot kick, but Zadro produced an outstanding double save, denying both the penalty and the rebound. Despite the setback, Aris came agonisingly close to equalising in stoppage time when Pourikkos failed to direct a close-range header on target after finding himself in an excellent position.
The team's next training session is scheduled for Monday, 3 August, in Austria.
