The "Mother of All Battles" returns to Piraeus this Sunday, February 8, 2026, as Olympiacos hosts Panathinaikos at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskáki. This Matchday 20 fixture isn't just about local bragging rights; it’s a critical junction in the Super League title race, with the hosts looking to maintain their grip on the top spot while the visitors aim to close the gap.
Match Details
Fixture: Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos
Competition: Super League Greece (Round 20)
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026
Time: 19:00 UTC / 21:00 EET
Venue: Stadio Georgios Karaiskáki, Piraeus
Referee: TBD (Usually a high-profile foreign official)
Pre-Match Analysis
Olympiacos: The Title Charge
Under José Luis Mendilibar, Olympiacos is in clinical form. Currently sitting in 1st place (46 points), they hold a narrow one-point lead over AEK Athens. The "Red-and-Whites" are coming off a massive confidence boost in Europe, having recently defeated Ajax 2-1 and Bayer Leverkusen 2-0. Domestically, they have been nearly perfect at home, boasting an unbeaten record at the Karaiskáki this season (8 wins, 1 draw).
The Piraeus giants have successfully integrated winter additions like Mehdi Taremi, who has quickly become a focal point of the attack. With the league's most solid defense—conceding only 9 goals in 19 matches—they will look to use the hostile atmosphere to overwhelm their rivals and avenge a draw earlier this season.
Panathinaikos: The Underdog Challenge
Currently in 5th place (29 points), Panathinaikos finds themselves 17 points adrift of the leaders. Their form has been a rollercoaster; while they managed a credible 1-1 draw against Roma in Europe, their domestic campaign has been marred by inconsistency, including a heavy 4-0 loss to AEK Athens.
A major concern for the "Greens" is their away record against top-tier opposition. However, they can take heart from the reverse fixture in September, where they held Olympiacos to a 1-1 draw. To leave Piraeus with a result, they will need a career-best performance from Alban Lafont and a clinical edge from Andrews Tetteh, who leads the team in shots on target.
Team News & Injury Reports
Olympiacos Team News
Status: The hosts have a remarkably clean bill of health heading into the derby.
Key Players: Mehdi Taremi enters the match as the team's highest-rated performer recently, while Santiago Hezze and Christos Mouzakitis are expected to anchor the midfield.
Player to Watch: Mehdi Taremi. Since his arrival, he has added a new dimension to the attack, providing both physical presence and clinical finishing.
Panathinaikos Team News
The visitors are facing a genuine selection crisis with several key players ruled out:
Out (Injury): Cyriel Dessers, Facundo Pellistri, Filip Djuricic, Manolis Siopis, and Pedro Chirivella are all sidelined.
Doubtful: Davide Calabria is a late fitness test due to recent physical discomfort.
Player to Watch: Andrews Tetteh. With 7 goals this season, he is the primary threat and will be tasked with exploiting any rare gaps in the Olympiacos defense.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Olympiacos (4-2-3-1):
Tzolakis; Costinha, Retsos, Biancone, Ortega; Hezze, Scipioni; Rodinei, Chiquinho, Podence; Mehdi Taremi.
Panathinaikos (4-2-3-1):
Alban Lafont; Vagiannidis (or Calabria), Ingason, Jedvaj, Kyriakopoulos; Kontouris, Willian Arão; Tetteh, Bakasetas, Mancini; Pavlos Pantelidis.
Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
Reverse Fixture: The teams played out a 1-1 draw in September 2025.
Historical Edge: Olympiacos leads the official H2H record with 90 wins compared to Panathinaikos' 57.
The "Karaiskáki Fortress": Olympiacos has won 8 of their 9 home league games this season.
Common Scoreline: The most frequent result in this derby at the Karaiskáki is 1-1 (7 times in the last 32 meetings).
Prediction: Olympiacos 2–0 Panathinaikos
Derbies are rarely straightforward, but the current gap in form and the significant injury list for Panathinaikos heavily favor the hosts. With Olympiacos fighting to stay ahead of AEK and PAOK, and boasting the league's most reliable defense, they are well-positioned to secure a professional victory. Panathinaikos' best hope lies in a defensive masterclass from Lafont, but the sheer volume of absences may prove too much to overcome.
Top Betting Tips:
Match Result: Olympiacos Win. Their home dominance and squad health make them strong favorites.
Total Goals: Under 2.5. High-stakes Greek derbies are notoriously tight and cagey.
To Score Anytime: Mehdi Taremi. The striker is in peak form and thrives in high-pressure matches.
