Panionios won through to the group stages of the UEFA Cup despite losing the second leg of their tie with Sochaux by a goal to nil. The two goal cushion the Greeks built in the first leg proved to be enough to send them through although it was not a match that was without its worries. Sochaux did not do as much as one would expect a side of their calibre to produce to win through, despite Melvut Erding coming close late on with a header after an own goal from Kumordzi after fifty-three minutes had given them the lead.

After such success in the first leg Panionios elected to stick by the 4-3-1-2 formation that had given them such success. The Greeks were solid throughout their side with the defence marshalled by Pletsch very impressive indeed. Despite some deficiencies in midfield, at either end of the park the Greek side was solid with Algerian born but French trained forward Djebbour again at the fore of much of their best play. Sochaux had played a dreadful first leg and were not that bad again, although they were far from brilliant. Frederic Hantz set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Dagano as the lone forward. Unfortunately for Sochaux their most creative midfield player, Dalmat, limped off before half-time; a blow they would never come to terms with.

After a quiet opening ten minutes Sochaux came within a whisker of opening the scoring twice in as many minutes. Dagano was played through on goal but failed to take control, the ball bouncing to Pitau whose shot was well blocked by a committed home defender. Moments later N’Daw’s elegant header drifted off target. The French side were not having it their own way however as an intelligent ball from Fernandez picked out Goundoulakis who was well denied by Richert. This missed chance signalled the end of the action until the beginning of the second period, which saw new life breathed into the game as Sochaux struck early. Quercia’s ball into the box from deep cause panic and Kumordzi succeeded only in lobbing his own goalkeeper in an attempt to clear with the ball dropping into the net. Sochaux failed to press following this goal as Panionios successfully shut up shop for several minutes. Indeed Kumordzi may have sealed the tie for his side but was brought down in the box, the referee deciding it was not a penalty kick; Pichot, who made the tackle looked relieved. Still Sochaux really failed to threaten until injury time, Erding thumping a near-post header narrowly wide as Birsa’s ball caused havoc.

Over the two legs the Greek side deserved to progress as they showed greater desire than their opponents. Much more was expected of Sochaux after their opener but the siege on the home goal never materialised. Indeed, given their pathetic performance in the first leg it would have been very harsh on Panionios if they were to go out to the French side.