Panathinaikos take on the visitors Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of UEFA Europa League Qualifications semifinals. The match will be played on Thursday, August 7th at Olympic Stadium of Athens (Athens).
Panathinaikos are a historic giant in Greek football, boasting 20 league titles and 20 cup wins. However, they haven’t managed to reclaim the domestic crown since 2010. And since 2014, they’ve only won the Greek Cup twice — including in 2024. Last season, they finished runners-up in the Super League, which earned them another shot at the Champions League qualifiers. But that campaign ended swiftly. Rangers won the first leg at home thanks to second-half goals from Cortes and Dessers. In the return leg in Athens, the Greeks opened the scoring after halftime, attempting a comeback — but the Scots quickly equalized, and the match ended 1-1. To make matters worse, Panathinaikos failed to impress in recent pre-season games, lacking cohesion and attacking sharpness. Their inability to respond under pressure is raising serious questions ahead of tougher European tests.
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Shakhtar Donetsk begin a new chapter with explosive wins. The Orange-and-Blacks had to respond to last season’s collapse — their worst in decades, finishing below not only Dynamo Kyiv but also Oleksandriya. Although Pušić claimed the domestic cup in a penalty shootout, that wasn’t enough to save face — and Arda Turan was brought in as the new head coach. The Turkish legend inherited virtually the same squad as his predecessor, yet he’s managed to bring immediate results. Shakhtar opened with a 6-0 demolition of Ilves, and although they were later held to a goalless draw in Finland, they regrouped impressively. Against Beşiktaş, Turan’s side showed greater discipline and energy, securing a commanding 4-2 win in Istanbul and following up with a solid 2-0 victory at “home.” Turan’s team looks confident and sharp in transition, with several young players stepping up in key roles. Their recent form suggests they’re building serious momentum in Europe.
These two historic giants of Greek and Ukrainian football have never faced each other before — not even in friendlies, let alone in European competition. At the moment, the Orange-and-Blacks look livelier and more composed. We recommend backing them to win on the road with a “draw no bet” (0 handicap).
Prediction for the match: Shakhtar Donetsk to win with 0.0 handicap.
