Anticipated Encounter: Panathinaikos versus Shakhtar Donetsk
In the upcoming UEFA Europa League qualifying round, Ukrainian powerhouse Shakhtar Donetsk will square off against Greek giants Panathinaikos. The highly anticipated match will be held at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland, on August 14, 2025, with a 7pm UK time kick-off.
The first leg between the two teams ended in a 0-0 draw, setting the stage for an exciting return leg as Shakhtar needs a win on neutral ground to progress. Arda Turan, the manager of Shakhtar Donetsk, expressed his pride in his players and their team spirit, emphasizing their vision as "one team, one family."
Panathinaikos, one of the most well-known clubs in Greece, finished second in the Super League Greece last season. Despite their strong showing domestically, they struggled in the Champions League qualifying, being knocked out by Scottish Premiership giants Rangers. In the first leg against Shakhtar, Panathinaikos took four corners and had 12 attempts on goal but failed to find the back of the net.
Panathinaikos are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mateus Tete, Pedro Chirivella, and Nemanja Maksimovic forming the midfield trio. Bartlomiej Dragowski will be in goal for the Greeks.
Shakhtar, on the other hand, boast strong home and Europa League form, having gone unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 home EL matches. They tend to score at least two goals in recent European games. However, to secure a win, they will need to improve their performance in the penalty area.
The predicted score for the match is 2-0 in favor of Shakhtar Donetsk. The best betting odds for a Shakhtar victory are approximately -141 (implying confidence in their win), with some bookmakers offering odds around 1.74 for Shakhtar to win. This prediction is supported by Shakhtar's strong form, the first leg result, and Panathinaikos' recent struggles away from home.
Shakhtar Donetsk, one of the biggest clubs in Ukraine, finished third in the Ukrainian Premier League during the 2024-25 campaign. They will be aiming to build on their domestic success in Europe. Panathinaikos, with their rich history and numerous domestic titles, will be eager to upset the odds and cause an upset in the Europa League.
[1] Source: Betting Odds Comparison Website [2] Source: UEFA Europa League Statistics [3] Source: Bookmaker A Odds [4] Source: Bookmaker B Odds
Team news for the upcoming Champions League qualifying round sees Shakhtar Donetsk taking on their opponents in the European leagues, Panathinaikos. Arda Turan, manager of Shakhtar, has expressed his excitement for the match, stating that his team will aim to build on their domestic success and continue their strong form in Europe. Panathinaikos, on the other hand, known for their rich history and numerous domestic titles, will look to cause an upset in the UEFA Europa League.
