Shakhtar Donetsk vs Panathinaikos Tips & Preview - Upper hand for the Ukrainians

By Tolu Shotade

12 Aug 2025

Tolu Shotade 12 Aug 2025

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Shakhtar Donetsk and Panathinaikos face off after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
Shakhtar have been strong at their adopted Polish home, aiming to score early.
Panathinaikos struggle away but have an open style; goals are expected.

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Panathinaikos

Shakhtar Donetsk face Panathinaikos in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League qualifier, with the tie perfectly balanced following a 0-0 draw in the first meeting.

Both teams will come into this clash believing they can claim the upper hand and could serve up an open contest. However, the Ukrainians have had no issues playing their home games in Poland and should come out on top here.

Shakhtar Donetsk News

Shakhtar Donetsk will be pleased with the result from the first leg, although they would have felt their performance deserved the win. Arda Turan's team were the better side in the encounter as they saw more of the possession and created several chances, but could not find the cutting edge.

The Ukrainians will be keen to set things right on Thursday and are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 matches, playing out a 3-3 draw with Karpaty Lviv in a domestic fixture. They have impressed playing their European home games in Poland and have won their last two Europa League matches in their adopted ground.

Shakhtar Domestic will be keen to pay down an early marker on Thursday and have scored first in their last two Europa League home matches. Six of their last eight home fixtures across all competitions have produced over 2.5 goals.

Panathinaikos News

Panathinaikos will be disappointed not to have come away with the advantage in the home leg of the tie. They had chances to score, but like the Ukrainians, they lacked the cutting edge in attack.

That result maintains a recent poor run for Panathinaikos, who are winless in six of their last seven matches across all competitions. Rui Vitoria's team are also poor on their travels and are winless in eight of their last 10 away matches across all competitions, losing seven times on this run.

Panathinaikos often like to play on the front foot, a style that tends to leave them exposed at the back. Seven of their last nine away matches across all competitions have produced over 2.5 goals.

Head to Head

Last week's first leg 0-0 draw is the only previous meeting between Shakhtar Donetsk and Panathinaikos.

Verdict

Shakhtar Donetsk v Panathinaikos

Shakhtar Donetsk often handle their business in their adopted ground and have scored first in their last two Europa League home matches, winning both fixtures. Thursday's clash is expected to follow a similar pattern, with the Ukrainians set to secure a playoff berth.

Both teams will be keen to claim the upper hand here and are likely to serve up an open contest. With seven of Panathinaikos’ last nine away matches producing over 2.5 goals, a similar outcome could be on the cards.

Shakhtar Donetsk

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