SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Transfer deadline: 5 hrs 31 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
P
Panathinaikos
Europa League | Third Qualifying Round
Aug 8, 2024 at 7pm UK
 
A
Ajax

0-1

 
FT(HT: 0-1)
Berghuis (28')

Preview: Panathinaikos vs. Ajax - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Panathinaikos vs. Ajax - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League qualifier between Panathinaikos and Ajax, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Reprising a rivalry that began in the 1971 European Cup final, Panathinaikos and Ajax kick off their Europa League third-round qualifier on Thursday.

After both teams safely made it through the second round, the Greek giants host the first leg in Athens, with a playoff place against either Bodo/Glimt or Jagiellonia Bialystok ultimately at stake.


Match preview

Preview: Panathinaikos vs. Ajax - prediction, team news, lineups

Finishing fourth in last season's Greek Super League playoffs saw Panathinaikos secure a European return for 2024-25, and they kicked off their latest continental campaign by beating Botev Plovdiv of Bulgaria in the Europa League's second qualifying round.

Having run out 2-1 winners on home soil, the Greens then cruised to a 4-0 away win one week later, with Swedish striker Alexander Jeremejeff scoring three goals across the two contests.

Former Inter Miami and Sevilla boss Diego Alonso took the role of head coach following Fatih Terim's departure in May, and the Uruguayan has been tasked with challenging for the title and securing group-stage football for his new club.

Panathinaikos came within a whisker of reaching the Champions League last year, only to fall to Braga in the playoffs, then made the group phase of the Europa League, where they posted only four points from six matches against Rennes, Villarreal and Maccabi Haifa.

Finalists in the 1971 European Cup, which they lost to none other than Ajax at Wembley, the Athens club have a proud history in UEFA competition - but their next opponents' is even more impressive.

That victory in London was the first time Ajax had been crowned European champions, beginning a three-year period of domination, and they claimed top spot again by winning the 1994-95 Champions League - most recently, Erik ten Hag's team came close to the final in 2019.

New coach Francesco Farioli - who arrived from Nice in the off-season - now has the tough task of rebuilding after the Amsterdam club finished fifth in the Eredivisie last term, which was some feat given a dismal start that saw them struggle at the foot of the table.

Hoping to put a period of on and off-field turmoil behind them, Ajax returned to competitive action in their opening Europa League qualifier last month, beating Vojvodina 4-1 on aggregate in the second round.

After eking out a 1-0 victory in the first leg at home, they were 3-1 victors in Serbia, where Josip Sutalo, Jorrel Hato and Bertrand Traore all scored during the second half.

Set to begin their new league campaign against Heerenveen this weekend, Ajax have now put together six straight victories including pre-season, when Rangers and Panathinaikos' domestic rivals Olympiacos were among their victims.

With stars such as Hato and Brian Brobbey staying at the club - at least so far - Farioli's new era promises much, but the stakes will be far higher on Thursday.

Panathinaikos Europa League form:

Ajax Europa League form:



Team News

Summer signings Sverrir Ingi Ingason, Nemanja Maksimovic and Tete were all involved in the win over Botev Plovdiv last time out, and fellow Panathinaikos new boy George Baldock could also make an appearance on Thursday evening.

After impressing at Euro 2024, Slovenian midfielder Adam Gnezda Cerin should start in the hosts' engine room, but international teammate Andraz Sporar may have to play second fiddle to Alexander Jeremejeff up front.

The latter scored seven goals in 14 league games during the second half of last season and already has three strikes to his name in Europa League qualifying.

Meanwhile, Ajax will be without goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, who is still on leave after competing at the Olympics with Argentina, so Diant Ramaj will vie with 40-year-old Remko Pasveer to start between the posts.

Owen Wijndal (arm) and Gaston Avila (knee) must miss the trip to Greece through injury, but Netherlands internationals Brian Brobbey and Steven Bergwijn may travel after returning to training last week.

The visitors are likely to deploy Chuba Akpom at the tip of their attack, with Jordan Henderson and Kenneth Taylor playing key roles in midfield; albeit Steven Berghuis and Branco van den Boomen are both pushing for promotion from the bench.


Panathinaikos possible starting lineup:
Dragowski; Baldock, Ingason, Jedvaj, Mladenovic; Cerin, Arao; Tete, Bakasetas, Djuricic; Jeremejeff

Ajax possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Rensch, Sutalo, Baas, Hato; Taylor, Henderson, Van den Boomen; Ramsussen, Akpom, Berghuis


We say: Panathinaikos 1-1 Ajax

It is fair to say that neither club is the force they were during the 1990s, or at other successful stages during their illustrious history, but this still represents a heavyweight clash in Europa League qualifying.

A close-fought first leg should see the spoils shared in Athens, leaving Ajax slight favourites to prevail after next week's return.


body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__549782 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-08-06 19:35:03:
html db last update - 2024-08-06 19:35:03 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Transfer news and rumours: Doak to Leicester, Felix to Villa, Fofana to Monaco
Rashford relationship with Man United 'irreparable' following Villa loan switch
The fab fourth? Man City 'agree payment structure' for £49.8m midfielder
Preview: Panathinaikos vs. Dinamo Minsk - prediction, team news, lineups
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1OlympiacosOlympiacos21145236142247
2AEK AthensAEK Athens21134434142043
3PanathinaikosPanathinaikos21127225151043
4PAOKPAOK21114635221337
5Aris ThessalonikiAris2110472522334
6Asteras TripolisAsteras209472319431
7AtromitosAtromitos218492626028
8OFI CreteOFI Crete217682930-127
9PanetolikosPanetolikos217591618-226
10Panserraikos2164112635-922
11Volos2163121735-1821
12LevadiakosLevadiakos213992130-918
13Kallithea2129101831-1315
14LamiaLamia2016131030-209
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Maldini in League Two: Arsenal confirm first deadline day transfer!

1

MI
Maldini in League Two: Arsenal confirm first deadline day transfer!

Chelsea 'hold talks' for Sporting youngster ahead of deadline day deal

2

C'
Chelsea 'hold talks' for Sporting youngster ahead of deadline day deal

Rashford relationship with Man United 'irreparable' following Villa loan switch

NEW

3

RR
Rashford relationship with Man United 'irreparable' following Villa loan switch

Audacious! Worst team in Football League plotting daring swoop for Gerrard?

NEW

4

AW
Audacious! Worst team in Football League plotting daring swoop for Gerrard?

Preview: Leganes vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PL
Preview: Leganes vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

Change of scenery: Chelsea allow prospect to join Championship club on loan

6

CO
Change of scenery: Chelsea allow prospect to join Championship club on loan

Aston Villa 'readying £50m deadline day move' for Chelsea defender

7

AV
Aston Villa 'readying £50m deadline day move' for Chelsea defender

Chuwuemeka to Dortmund: Loan fee agreed, is an option-to-buy included?

8

CT
Chuwuemeka to Dortmund: Loan fee agreed, is an option-to-buy included?

Chilwell to Palace contract details revealed: How much of his wages will Chelsea pay?

9

CT

New contract, new club: Liverpool set to announce first deadline day deal?

10

NC
1x1


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .