The damage done in the first leg meant that we had little chance of an upset following the trip to Athens.
Many fans took the view that a chance to travel with the team for a Champions League game was not to be missed and so between five and six hundred made the best of the Greek sunshine and sweltered in the Olympic Stadium for the evening kick off.
Panathinaikos were forced to leave their sity centre ground as it did not meet UEFA's standard and as a result the game was held at the showpiece centre of the 2004 Olympic games.
Although the view from our corner was unimpeded it underlined again that a stadium built for athleticsis no place to watch a football match. The away fans must have been at least two hundred yards from the far goal.
As it happened the three goals were scored in front of us - unfortunately they were all for the Greeks. We held them into the second half but the heat and the class of the opposition told in the end and though the final score flattered them a wee bit, they deserved the win.
The conditions for the fans were brutal. It was very hot and humid and there was no catering laid on. The toilets comprised a row of dark portaloos outside the ground and only the appearance of an enterprising local with cases of bottled water gabe the chance of a drink at half time.
Following the match we were held back then released at half past midnight to the side of a dual carriageway with no easy route back to the city centre. The contrast to th warm welcome we received in Dingwall a few days earlier was marked!
The crazy UEFA rules meant that we were parachuted into the qualifying round of the Europa Cup and as we headed with thoughts of a second bite at the cherry.
Match report here.
Wednesday 8 August 2012 Att 27,000
Panathinaikos 3 Motherwell 0
Team: Randolph, Hammell Cummins (FrancisAnfol 76), Ramsden, Hutchinson, Hateley, Murphy, Law, Lasley, Daley (Higdon 76), Ojamaa (McHugh 70)