Anticipated Clash: Panathinaikos vs Shakhtar Donetsk
The UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie between Shakhtar Donetsk and Panathinaikos will take place at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland, on August 14, 2025, at 7pm UK time (21:00 Kyiv time).
Shakhtar Donetsk, who have been playing their home European games in Poland due to circumstances related to Ukraine, have shown a strong performance in the Europa League qualifiers so far, being unbeaten with a positive goal difference throughout the rounds.
Traditionally known for a possession-based style with quick, technical attacks and strong midfield control, Shakhtar's recent preparation includes a thorough review of their own games and analysis of Panathinaikos’s play, indicating a tactical approach focused on exploiting weaknesses identified in the opposition.
Panathinaikos, on the other hand, typically set up to be compact defensively with quick transitions. They may try to absorb pressure and hit on the counterattack, especially playing away from home.
In the first leg of last season's match against Panathinaikos, Shakhtar Donetsk played a goalless draw. Arda Turan, the manager of Shakhtar Donetsk, expressed some dissatisfaction with the score but was pleased with the team's performance. Panathinaikos, however, failed to win the first leg of the tie at home and had to settle for a draw.
Key factors that could influence the outcome of the second leg include Shakhtar’s away "home" advantage, tactical preparation, and recent form. The psychological factor of Shakhtar playing outside their home country and the pressure to advance is also significant.
Panathinaikos, a Greek giant and one of the biggest clubs in the country, never relegated from the top division and having won the Greek title 20 times and the Greek Cup 20 times, will line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Bartlomiej Dragowski will be in goal for the Greek club, with Giannis Kotsiras, Erik Palmer-Brown, Ahmed Touba, and Georgios Kyriakopoulos as defenders. Mateus Tete, Pedro Chirivella, and Nemanja Maksimovic will be the three players in midfield. Facundo Pellistri, Karol Swiderski, and Filip Djuricic will be deployed in attack.
The prediction for the second leg is Shakhtar Donetsk to win 1-0, with best odds at Zetbet. Considering Shakhtar’s current form in Europa League qualifiers with an unbeaten record, superior goal difference, and home advantage in a neutral location, they are likely favourites to progress. Panathinaikos will aim to disrupt Shakhtar’s rhythm and capitalize on counterattacks, but Shakhtar’s tactical preparation and squad strength may see them through.
In the 2024-25 season, Shakhtar Donetsk finished third in the Ukrainian Premier League, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos, in the same season, finished second in the Super League Greece and were knocked out by Scottish Premiership giants Rangers in the Champions League qualifying.
Arda Turan, the manager of Shakhtar Donetsk, noted that Shakhtar Donetsk made some mistakes in key moments during the first leg against Panathinaikos and expressed a desire to improve the team's performance in the penalty area.
With both teams showing competitive spirit and strategic potential, the second leg promises to be an exciting encounter.
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