Panathinaikos vs AEL

The Stadio Apóstolos Nikolaidis prepares for a high-intensity Greek Super League clash this Sunday, February 15, 2026, as Rafael Benítez’s Panathinaikos (5th, 29 points) takes on a resilient AEL Larissa (11th, 19 points). Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 UTC.

With the regular season nearing its conclusion, Panathinaikos is desperate to break into the top four, while AEL is fighting to climb away from the relegation play-off spots after a mixed run of form.

Match Information

Panathinaikos: The "Rafa" Revolution

Since the high-profile appointment of Rafael Benítez, the "Trifylli" has adopted a more disciplined, tactical approach. Fresh off a massive 1–0 Derby of the Eternal Enemies win against Olympiacos, the mood in Athens is optimistic, though a recent Cup exit to PAOK serves as a reminder that the squad is still a work in progress.

Team News and Selection:

• Injury Crisis: Benítez is facing a selection headache with several key starters out. Cyriel Dessers, Facundo Pellistri, and Filip Đuričić are all sidelined with muscle injuries.

• The Swiderski Factor: With Dessers out, the goal-scoring burden falls on Karol Świderski, who has 9 goals across all competitions this season. Youngster Pavlos Pantelidis is also expected to feature after an impressive breakout month.

• Midfield Anchor: Anastasios Bakasetas remains the creative heartbeat, having recently scored in the 2–2 draw against AEL earlier this season.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Dragowski; Calabria, Ingason, Jedvaj, Kyriakopoulos; Maksimovic, Willian Arão; Tete, Bakasetas, Zaroury; Świderski.

AEL Larissa: Fighting for Survival

AEL has been the league's "Jekyll and Hyde" team lately. After an incredible three-game winning streak in January—including a scalp of Aris Thessaloniki—they were brought back to earth with a thumping 4–1 loss to Panetolikos last weekend. Manager Savvas Pantelidis knows his team must find defensive stability to survive the atmosphere in Athens.

Team News and Selection:

• Standout Performer: Midfielder Jani Atanasov has been one of the league's most underrated players this season, leading AEL in big chances created (6).

• Target Man: Giannis Pasas leads the scoring charts for the visitors with 4 goals and will be the primary threat on the counter-attack.

• Goalkeeping Heroics: Nikolaos Melissas currently ranks 3rd in the league for saves per match and will likely need to be in world-class form on Sunday.

• Predicted XI (4-3-3): Melissas; Deligiannidis, Pantelakis, Chakla, Olafsson; Atanasov, Staikos, Perez; Giousis, Pasas, Tupta.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• The Recent Draw: The reverse fixture in December 2025 was a thriller, ending in a 2–2 draw with a 99th-minute equalizer from AEL.

• Home Dominance: Panathinaikos is historically dominant at home against AEL, winning 8 of their last 15 encounters in Athens.

• Trend Alert: 5 of AEL's last 5 matches have seen Under 2.5 goals, suggesting a low-scoring, cagey affair.

• League Standing: A huge 10-point gap exists between the two, but AEL’s recent form (3 wins in 5) makes them more dangerous than their 11th-place rank suggests.

Tactical Preview and Prediction

Rafael Benítez will likely set Panathinaikos up to dominate possession and use the overlapping runs of Davide Calabria to break down AEL's low block. However, AEL's ability to sit deep and strike through Giannis Pasas has troubled the "Big Four" all season.

The key battle will be in the midfield, where Bakasetas will try to evade the physical marking of Facundo Perez. If Panathinaikos scores early, they could cruise; if not, the pressure of the home crowd might allow AEL to snatch another dramatic result.

Final Score Prediction: Panathinaikos 2–0 AEL