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Shakhtar Donetsk travel to the Greek capital in buoyant spirits under new head coach Arda Turan, who has swiftly instilled a disciplined and combative edge to the squad. The Ukrainian champions began their domestic season with a narrow but assured 1-0 victory over Epicentr, a performance that underlined their defensive organisation and tactical structure.
However, they will be without striker Lassina Traoré due to a muscle injury, a setback that limits their attacking depth. Turan has made it clear that his side is in Athens to compete at full throttle, with intense training sessions already taking place in the city to prepare for this Europa League showdown.
Panathinaikos Seeking Redemption at Home
Panathinaikos enter the fixture still stinging from their Champions League elimination at the hands of Rangers. Despite spells of dominance, they were unable to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit, managing only a 1-1 draw in the return match.
Manager Ivan Jovanović has since moved to strengthen the squad with the acquisition of winger Anass Zaroury from Lens and goalkeeper Alban Lafont, aiming to add creativity and reliability in key areas. The Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium has historically been a fortress for the Greens in European competition, and a recent 3-1 friendly victory over Westerlo suggests there is attacking potential—though turning that into consistent performances remains the challenge.
Tactical Keys to the Contest
This match is likely to hinge on midfield control and the ability to exploit defensive gaps. For Shakhtar, Georgiy Sudakov will be the creative heartbeat, tasked with dictating play and threading passes to unlock Panathinaikos’ backline. On the Greek side, Zaroury’s wing play combined with Fotis Ioannidis’ sharp finishing will be central to their hopes of breaking down Shakhtar’s high-pressing defensive unit. Both teams have reason to push the tempo—Shakhtar for an away advantage, and Panathinaikos to restore belief after recent disappointments.
Prediction
Given their settled tactical approach and the mental lift under Turan’s leadership, Shakhtar Donetsk appear marginally better positioned to take the first-leg edge. Panathinaikos are capable of finding the net, likely through a moment of attacking flair, but Shakhtar’s structured shape and efficiency in transition should see them through. Expect an energetic contest with moments of quality on both sides, but the Ukrainian side’s composure could prove decisive.
Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk 2:1 Panathinaikos
