Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Panathinaikos vs. Dnipro-1 - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 30 July 2023, 08:29
Fresh from a dominant two-goal win in the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round clash, Panathinaikos host a beleaguered Dnipro-1 side in Tuesday's return fixture at the Leoforos Alexandras Stadium.

Ivan Jovanovic's men ran out 3-1 victors during their opening showdown, which was played on neutral territory in Slovakia as conflict continues to rage in Dnipro-1's homeland.

Match preview

Entering in the second qualifying round of the Champions League thanks to their second-placed finish in the 2022-23 Greek Super League - only finishing worse off than AEK Athens - Panathinaikos have one foot firmly in the third round courtesy of a routine Slovakian success last time out.

Andraz Sporar, Filip Djuricic and Fotis Ioannidis propelled the Greek giants into a healthy three-goal lead before Volodymyr Tanchyk's consolation gave Dnipro a small sliver of hope, but barring an Athens upset, Panathinaikos will live to fight another day in Europe.

A 1-0 friendly loss to Rayo Vallecano seven days before their opening continental affair was hardly ideal preparation for Panathinaikos, but the 20-time Greek champions had gone unbeaten in their previous six exhibition encounters and have returned to the Champions League with a bang following an eight-year absence from the top tier.

One-time European Cup finalists in 1971 - which ended in a 2-0 defeat to Ajax - Panathinaikos were Champions League regulars just after the turn of the millennium, but not since the 2010-11 season have the Greens been present in the group stage.

The hosts have also experienced a couple of failed ventures in the Europa League since then, but they have never been eliminated from the second round of Champions League qualifying and ought to be most people's picks to maintain that unblemished record here.

Unlike their Greek counterparts, Ukrainian powerhouses Dnipro did manage to navigate their pre-season period without suffering a single defeat, but that record paled into insignificance when Panathinaikos' quality shone through last week.

Nevertheless, Tanchyk's 90th-minute effort did at least reduce the arrears for Oleksandr Kucher's side, who are by no means down and out in the tie, but their European pedigree is far inferior to that of the Greens.

Indeed, last week's 3-1 loss represented Dnipro's first-ever Champions League match in just their second year of continental competition; the 2022-23 season saw the Ukrainian side lose 5-1 to AEK Larnaca in the Europa League playoff round before progressing through the Europa Conference League group stage, only for the Cypriot outfit to once again be the thorn in their side in the first knockout stage.

Amid their continental baptism, Kucher's men placed second in the 2022-23 Ukrainian Premier League behind Shakhtar Donetsk to dine at Europe's top table for the first time, but nothing less than a miracle will do for Dnipro if they are to set up a daunting third-round affair with French behemoths Marseille.

Panathinaikos Champions League form:

W

Dnipro-1 Champions League form:

L

Team News

Panathinaikos' first-leg success was not an entirely perfect evening for manager Jovanovic, who lost centre-back and captain Bart Schenkeveld to injury with just 24 minutes gone last Tuesday.

It is unclear how severe the Dutchman's problem is, but Lokomotiv Moscow loanee Tin Jedvaj is on standby to cover for his skipper, who represents the hosts' only fresh fitness concern ahead of the second leg.

Summer signings Djuricic and Tonny Vilhena should once again link up in a new-look midfield for Panathinaikos, while Sporar should edge out fellow goalscorer Ioannidis in the two-horse battle to lead the line, with support from former Everton winger Bernard.

As for Dnipro, Kucher should be working with the same crop of players from the first leg, with defender Vitaliy Fedoriv and midfielder Oleksiy Gutsulyak fine to feature despite serving lengthy domestic suspensions.

However, Gutsulyak's spot on the right is now under threat from super sub Tanchyk, while left-back Yanis Hamache and midfielder Oleksandr Pikhalyonok are both in the infirmary with unspecified injury problems.

Similarly to Panathinaikos' Schenkeveld, Dnipro's captain Oleksandr Svatok also failed to complete the full 90 minutes in the first leg, but there is nothing to suggest that the Ukraine international will not be fit to start this one.

Panathinaikos possible starting lineup:

Brignoli; Kotsiras, Jedvaj, Magnusson, Juankar; Vilhena, Perez, Djuricic; Palacios, Sporar, Bernard

Dnipro-1 possible starting lineup:

Kinareykin; Adamyuk, Svatok, Sarapiy, Kravets; Babenko, Blanco; Tanchyk, Rubchynskyi, Tretyakov; Dovbyk

We say: Panathinaikos 2-0 Dnipro-1 (Panathinaikos win 5-1 on aggregate)

Having already asserted their dominance over Dnipro on neutral ground, Panathinaikos should make lightning strike twice on home soil to cruise into the third round of Champions League qualifying.

Previews by email

Top News

10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes fell just short of matching a Red Devils milestone achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo in Sunday's 3-0 Premier League win over Leicester City. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had no good news to share when asked for an update on the conditions of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka following Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has talked up his side's achievement of reaching the November international break sitting only behind Liverpool and Manchester City. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A stunning hit from Pedro Neto cancelled out Gabriel Martinelli's opener as London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal played out a 1-1 Premier League draw at Stamford Bridge. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruud van Nistelrooy has branded his time in charge of Manchester United "a short but amazing period", with the Dutchman going unbeaten during his four games at the helm. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed that head coach Ivan Juric has been relieved of his duties after a dismal 12-match reign. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has taken the blame for his team's shock home defeat to struggling Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has explained Alejandro Garnacho's low-key celebration after the Argentina international scored in Sunday's 3-0 win over Leicester City at Old Trafford. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A dogged Ipswich Town finally earned their first Premier League win of the season at the 11th attempt as they stunned Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in North London. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruud van Nistelrooy signed off as interim Manchester United manager with a 3-0 victory over Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, with the Dutchman now handing over the reigns to Ruben Amorim. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cole Palmer has been passed fit to start for Chelsea in their Premier League London derby with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Charlton Athletic and Bromley will go head-to-head in the 2024-25 EFL Trophy on Tuesday, with the hosts hoping to maintain their perfect start to the competition. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United may reportedly look to secure a loan deal for a new striker during the January transfer window. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United attacker Amad Diallo has overcome a knock to be included in the Red Devils XI for Sunday's Premier League clash with Leicester City at Old Trafford. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Arsenal have seemingly been handed a boost regarding the potential availability of RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk At the JobServe Community Stadium on Tuesday evening, Colchester United and Arsenal Under-21s both know that avoiding defeat could be enough to seal their place in the EFL Trophy knockout rounds. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly among the clubs who have identified an English youngster as a potential transfer target. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together on two points in Southern section Group E of the EFL Trophy, MK Dons and Leyton Orient have it all to play for in Tuesday's encounter at Stadium mk. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing points to aid their hopes of reaching the EFL Trophy's knockout phase, Notts County will meet Leicester City Under-21s on Tuesday. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both vying for one place in the EFL Trophy knockouts, Lincoln City and Manchester City Under-21s will square off at the LNER Stadium in Tuesday's Northern section Group G showdown. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Doing battle in an EFL Trophy dead rubber, Chesterfield and Grimsby Town square off at the SMH Group Stadium on Tuesday evening in Northern section Group G. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Lisbon youngster Geovany Quenda is reportedly expected to remain with his Portuguese club for at least one more season despite suggestions that he could move to the Premier League next summer. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing just a point to book their place in the knockout rounds, Northampton Town return to EFL Trophy action on Tuesday, when they welcome Burton Albion to Sixfields. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly 'serious' about signing Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Lisbon, with the Gunners set to battle Manchester United for the centre-back's signature during next summer's transfer window. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Incoming Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly desperate for the Red Devils to win the race for Rosenborg teenager Sverre Nypan during next summer's transfer window. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Goztepe SK vs. Konyaspor (Sunday, 10.30am) Two sides separated by a single point in the middle of the Turkish Super Lig table will do battle at the Gursel Aksel Stadium on Sunday, as Goztepe SK welcome Konyaspor. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estrela Amadora vs. Nacional (Sunday, 3.30pm) Two sides struggling at the bottom of the Primeira Liga table are set to come together on Sunday afternoon when Estrela Amadora host Nacional at Estadio Jose Gomes. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Almere City vs. Feyenoord (Sunday, 11.15am) Feyenoord make the trip to Almere City on Sunday aware that only a win will do if they want to stay competitive in the title race. 10 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Betis vs. Celta Vigo (Sunday, 1.00pm) Aiming to extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to seven matches, Real Betis will welcome Celta Vigo to Estadio Benito Villamarin for a La Liga clash on Sunday afternoon.