Shakhtar vs Panathinaikos: Football Previews & Free Football Betting Tips
No fresh suspensions flagged at the time of writing. Winter/spring departures like Oleksandr Zubkov are long confirmed out. The core spine remains: Riznyk in goal; Konoplia – Bondar – Matviyenko – Azarovi across the back; Nazaryna anchoring with Bondarenko and Sudakov progressing play. Returnees Dmytro Topalov and Oleg Ocheretko add energy in the front line; Brazilian forward Eguinaldo offers depth and runs off the shoulder.
Busy window: new No.1 Alban Lafont (loan) is in; full-back Giorgos Kyriakopoulos and centre-half Ahmed Touba strengthen the back four alongside Tin Jedvaj and mainstay RB Giannis Kotsiras. In midfield, ex‑Nantes captain Pedro Chirivella joins ball-winner Manolis Siopis, with creator Anastasios Bakasetas in the 10. Wing threat comes from loanee Anass Zaroury. No new bans noted pre‑deadline; fitness checks as usual on short‑turnaround European weeks.
Riznyk; Konoplia, Bondar, Matviyenko, Azarovi; Nazaryna, Bondarenko, Sudakov; Topalov, Eguinaldo, Ocheretko.
Lafont; Kotsiras, Jedvaj, Touba, Kyriakopoulos; Siopis, Chirivella; Zaroury, Bakasetas, left/right wing rotation; Ioannidis or Sporar at 9 depending on minutes. New signings included
Shakhtar (last 4 this season): 3W‑1D‑0L, GF 11 / GA 4, 2 clean sheets. That’s 2.75 scored and 1.00 conceded per game. They’ve been fast and ruthless at home (6‑0 aggregate across two matches) with most goals after the break.
Panathinaikos (last 3 this season): 2W‑0D‑1L, GF 6 / GA 2, 1 clean sheet. That’s 2.00 scored and 0.67 conceded per game. They controlled Botev over two legs, then edged out by Ajax in a tight one.
Trend notes: Shakhtar are heavy “overs” early (75% over 2.5 from four). PAO’s shape is balanced but they’ve added chance creation through Bakasetas and wide pace via Zaroury.
| Metric (last games) | Shakhtar | Panathinaikos |
|---|---|---|
| Average goals scored | 2.75 | 2.00 |
| Average goals conceded | 1.00 | 0.67 |
| Clean sheet % | 50% | 33% |
| Average possession | 62% | 55% |
| xG per game | 1.80 | 1.80 |
| Shots (on target) | 14 (6) | 11 (5) |
| Over 2.5 goals | 75% | 67% |
Shakhtar home (last 2): 2 wins from 2 (100%), GF 3.0 / GA 0.0 per game, 2/2 clean sheets. They’ve flown out of the traps in Kyiv‑hosted ties.
Panathinaikos away (last 1): 1 win (4‑0 at Botev), GF 4.0 / GA 0.0, clean sheets 100%. Too thin a sample for strong conclusions, but structure travels well.
Heorhii Sudakov — the creative hub. Finds pockets, carries through pressure, and supplies that final pass in the half‑spaces.
Mykola Matviyenko — left‑sided centre‑back who starts attacks with diagonals and marshals the line against crosses/set plays.
Anastasios Bakasetas — captain‑level influence. Shoots from range, deadly from dead balls, and links wide players into the box.
Anass Zaroury — fresh loan and direct danger. One‑v‑one winger who can beat the full‑back and cut in for shots or cut‑backs.
Score pick: 3–1 Shakhtar. Home momentum, sharper attacking rhythm, and a stable midfield triangle tilt it their way. Panathinaikos are organised and upgraded at GK, so expect resistance — but Shakhtar’s chance volume and set‑piece threat should tell.
Main pick: Over 2.5 Goals — both sides trend to overs (Shakhtar 75%, PAO 67%) and the matchup invites shots from range plus fast transitions.
Value angle: Shakhtar to Win — strong home tempo, high shot volume, and cleaner chemistry in the final third tip the balance.
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