Panathinaikos will have to fight for a place in the Europa League, although the task is far from easy. In the Champions League preliminary round, the Greek team was knocked out by Rangers, who, especially in the home game, made qualification look like a foregone conclusion.
Things could have gone much better for the green and whites because now, in their second European competition, they will have to beat Shakhtar of Ukraine, if possible. They are a complicated, very complicated team, one of those that can really get results anywhere, as they did in the previous round when they won both away and at home against Besiktas. And let’s say that it was not an easy obstacle.
The visitors seem much more ready, as they are obviously in great form at the moment. This was demonstrated in recent weeks when they knocked out Abraham’s Bianconeri, who had bellicose intentions but soon had to give up. Furthermore, the Greek atmosphere, which will be no hotter than the Turkish one, will in no way trouble Shakhtar, who are really ready to make a big splash in this match.
Odds comparison
Shakhtar’s victory is quoted at 2.50 on Goldbet and Lottomatica. NO GOAL, on the other hand, is quoted at 1.60 on Goldbet and Lottomatica.
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Prediction
Both teams score and concede a lot. In fact, their last few games have always ended with goals. This could obviously happen again in this match, but Shakhtar are in too good form at the moment not to try everything to get the away win and put themselves back on track for qualification. In short, it’s a game for the visitors to win.
Probable line-ups for Panathinaikos-Shakhtar
PANATHINAIKOS (4-3-3): Dragowski; Kotsiras, Palmer-Brown, Touba, Kyriakopoulos; Bakasetas, Chirivella, Maksimovic; Pellistri, Ioannidis, Djuricic.
SHAKHTAR (4-1-4-1): Riznyk; Konoplya, Bondar, Mativlienko, Henrique; Marlon Gomes; Alisson, Ocheretko, Sudakov, Kevin; Eguinaldo.