Last season was a real bonafide thriller that saw the Agrinio club in the thick of a relegation dogfight to save their top flight status. Six months later, history seems to be repeating itself in an identical way. This time only the personnel has changed. Let’s start from the beginning.

For another season, Panetolikos is trying to support its well-established plan. Which means banking on young players from the club’s academies, in combination with some quality foreigners and some experienced heads to guide the youthful element. The goal is the development of players, followed by their sale(s), and at the same time try to play some good football.

Last season that plan initially did not work. Makis Chavos was installed as coach in October, taking over a team at the bottom of the standings and managing to reshape it, change its style of play, and in the end he got the results required to keep the club in the Super League.

Chavos took the reins again for the current season, but the start of the season did not go well. Ando so, Traianos Dellas became this season’s Makis Chavos.

Dellas returned to the team’s bench in November, and since then Panetolikos has transformed itself for the better. In fact, the club has now moved out of the danger zone, collecting 13 points versus the 11 of Lamia, and Larissa, who have nine points.

The Agrinio side have a clear problem up front with only 10 goals scored in 19 games. Gboly Ariyibi and Nikos Vergos are the team’s top scorers with two goals, and the Panetolikos squad as a whole having only three assists between them.

Manthatis, Cocalic and Barbosa arrived to offer extra options in the January transfer window, while Nikos Karelis is also expected to arrive in Agrinio to try to help the team’s offensive troubles.

Matsola, Karasalidis and Azandi will be missing at the Toumba, but Dellas has Medina back.