Nioplias content to pick up Rubin point

Panathinaikos FC coach Nikos Nioplias admitted neither side had deserved to win as the Greek champions shared a goalless draw with FC Rubin Kazan in Athens. The result keeps the Russian side a point ahead of their opponents at the foot of Group D following a match which was most notable for the second-half introduction of Charis Mavrias, at 16 years and 242 days old the second youngest player in UEFA Champions League history.

Nikos Nioplias, Panathinaikos coach
We could have won, but I think the draw was a fair result. Both teams could have scored and got the win. We finished the game very well and had some good opportunities, but we couldn't seem to get that breakthrough.

Mavrias is a talented player. We are always looking at each game and deciding what we need, not whether or not a player is young or old. He's quick and persistent. It's a good start and welcome to the world of football for him.

Kurban Berdyev, Rubin coach
This draw doesn't suit us or Panathinaikos, but for them it's a little bit better. We had the territorial advantage but just couldn't convert our scoring chances, and I really regret that. We did not put them under enough pressure in their own box.

I think all their dangerous situations came via set pieces. We had to be more aggressive and fulfil the plans that we worked on in our training sessions. It didn't go to plan, but I still believe that the battle for qualification is still to be decided.