Panathinaikos vs PAOK Prediction: Will PAOK recover after the defeat?

Matches from the Championship group in the Greece Super League are continuing this weekend, and Panathinaikos will welcome PAOK in one of the greatest derbies in Greece. It’s a duel between 2nd and 3rd placed teams in the league, but teams with bigger ambitions of winning the title. Points from this match are very important for both teams and both teams are under pressure to perform well and win. 

Form: WDWDD

Panathinaikos won in the last round against Olympiakos 3:1 away, and the momentum must be on their side right now. They are in 3rd position, with 59 points, 3 points less than the leader AEK and a point less than PAOK. This season they haven’t won against PAOK in the league, but they were better than PAOK in the National Cup semi-finals. In the last 5 matches, Panathinaikos have 2 wins and 3 draws, and they aren’t defeated in the last 11 matches in the league. In the last round against Olympiakos, this team showed strong character and even though they were playing in a hot stadium and were losing 1:0 after 24 minutes, they took control of the match and in the end won 3:1.

Form: WLLWW

Besides the title race in Greece, PAOK also have duties in Europe as they are playing in the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League against Club Brugge, which can be a little too much for them in such tight title race. In the league, they were shocked in the last round by their city rival Aris, who won 1:0 in Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki. PAOK are in 2nd position, with 2 points less than AEK, and in the last 5 matches have 3 wins and 2 defeats. As visitors, PAOK have 5 wins in their last 5 matches in the league, and it can be their main weapon in the title race, playing well in away matches and getting points in difficult matches.

Both teams need points, as the season goes by the pressure is getting bigger, and these teams broke under pressure last season. They are hoping to end this season differently, with a trophy but they have to win and remain focused as true champions. Their first match this season in this stadium ended in a draw 2:2, while PAOK won at home 2:1. In the semi-final of the cup they played more tight matches and the winner was decided on penalties. This is a playoff match, and I expect more tight and tough match, but I expect both teams to score at least a goal each.