Preview: Panathinaikos vs Samsunspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Panathinaikos welcome Samsunspor to the Athens Olympic Stadium for the first leg of their Europa League playoff, aiming to establish an early advantage in this tie.

This marks the Greeks’ third outing in European competition this season, while the Turkish visitors are only just embarking on a continental campaign for the first time in over two decades.

Match preview

After dropping into Europe’s second tier following their Champions League exit to Rangers, being paired with a Shakhtar Donetsk side rich in European experience was hardly the scenario Panathinaikos would have wished for.

However, through sheer grit and resilience, the Greens managed to progress on penalties following a goalless stalemate across both legs of the Europa League third qualifying phase, meaning they have already gone one better than last season.

Having had to settle for the Conference League in 2024-25, Panathinaikos now stand one tie away from securing their sixth appearance in the UEL proper, with only Samsunspor standing in their way.

While Rui Vitoria’s men will look to make home advantage count and seize control of this tie, their recent record at the Athens Olympic is unconvincing, having gone three competitive matches without a win there — a run that includes two European draws and a league defeat on the final day of last season.

With the new Greek top-flight campaign yet to begin before Thursday’s encounter, Panathinaikos have been handed breathing space, particularly as their scheduled opener against OFI — originally set for three days after the first leg of their UEL tie — has been postponed.

Samsunspor, meanwhile, will have to juggle continental football with their Turkish Super Lig commitments in the coming week, and it remains to be seen how they manage to adapt to these uncharted waters.

The Red Lightning are making a long-awaited return to the continental stage after more than 27 years away, with their last participation dating back to the 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup.

A third-place finish in the Super Lig earned them this opportunity, and Thomas Reis’s men have started brightly this term, winning both opening fixtures, the latest being a 1-0 triumph against Kocaelispor over the weekend.

While Samsunspor head into Thursday’s clash with momentum from their perfect start to the new season, they also carry an unbeaten streak of eight competitive matches stretching back to last term and will hope this counts for something in Greece.

Panathinaikos Europa League form:

Panathinaikos form (all competitions):

Samsunspor form (all competitions):

Team News

Head coach Vitoria named the same starting XI for Panathinaikos in both legs of the previous round, and it would not come as a surprise if he opts for continuity again on Thursday.

The defensive quartet of Giannis Kotsiras, Erik Palmer-Brown, Ahmed Touba and Georgios Kyriakopoulos are expected to provide cover for goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski, just as they did against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Nemanja Maksimovic, Pedro Chirivella and Tete are likely to anchor the midfield, while Karol Swiderski is tipped to spearhead the attack.

Like the hosts, Samsunspor have also stuck with the same selection in their last two outings, so Reis may once again place his trust in a settled line-up.

The visitors will, however, be without Afonso Sousa, who is sidelined by a muscle problem, while Anthony Musaba remains a doubt for the contest.

Panathinaikos possible starting lineup:

Dragowski, Kotsiras, Palmer-Brown, Touba, Kyriakopoulos, Chirivella, Tete, Maksimovic; Djurisic, Swiderski, Pellistri

Samsunspor possible starting lineup:

Kocuk; Yavru, Satka, Van Drongelen, Tomasson; Yuksel, Ntcham; Dimata, Holse, Kilinic; Marius

We say: Panathinaikos 1-0 Samsunspor

Although Panathinaikos have struggled to impose themselves at home of late, they should still have enough quality to edge this encounter, buoyed by their European know-how and the passionate backing of the Athens crowd.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.