The drama of the Greek Cup (Kypello Elladas) takes center stage tonight, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, as two of the nation's most storied clubs, Panathinaikos and Aris Thessaloniki, battle for a spot in the semi-finals. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:30 local time (18:30 UTC) at the Olympic Stadium of Athens (OAKA).
With both sides currently sitting mid-table in the Super League and fighting for European spots, the Cup has become the most viable path to silverware and guaranteed continental football for the 2026/27 season.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: Greek Cup (Quarter-final – Single Leg)
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Kick-off: 20:30 Athens / 18:30 UTC / 21:30 EAT
Venue: Olympic Stadium of Athens (OAKA), Athens
Referee: Angelos Evangelou
Broadcast: COSMOTE Sport (Greece)
The Storyline: A Season-Defining Night
Panathinaikos: Seeking Consistency Under Pressure
The Giallorossi enter this clash following a mixed run of form. While they recently dominated Panserraikos with a 3–0 win, a stinging 2–0 defeat to rivals PAOK in December highlighted some defensive vulnerabilities. Currently 6th in the league, Panathinaikos views the Cup as a "must-win" priority.
Managerial focus has been on integrating winter arrivals, but the biggest boost comes from the creative form of Anass Zaroury, who has emerged as a focal point in the absence of key strikers.
Aris: The Underdog with a Bite
Aris Thessaloniki arrives in Athens as a dangerous underdog. Though they sit just behind Panathinaikos in the league standings (7th), they have proven difficult to break down, famously holding PAO to a 1–1 draw in their last league encounter in October.
For Aris, the Cup is a chance to avenge their 2024 final loss to Panathinaikos. However, manager Apostolos Terzis faces a massive selection headache with a long list of injuries threatening to disrupt his defensive structure.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Panathinaikos Team News
Injuries: The Greens are without several high-profile names. Renato Sanches, Facundo Pellistri, and Cyriel Dessers are all ruled out. Milos Pantovic also remains sidelined.
Tactical Note: Expect a 4-2-3-1 formation with Zaroury and Tetteh providing the width.
Predicted XI: Dragowski; Kotsiras, Jedvaj, Touba, Calabria; Čerin, Chirivella; Zaroury, Djuričić, Tetteh; Świdérski.
Aris Team News
Injury Crisis: Aris is severely depleted. They will travel without Fabiano, Tino Kadewere, Anastasios Donis, and Noah Sonko Sundberg. Goalkeeper Sokratis Dioudis is also a major doubt.
Key Threat: Loren Morón remains the primary danger man up front; he currently leads the team in goals and big chances created.
Predicted XI: Athanasiadis; Tejero, Rose, Pedro Álvaro, Fadiga; Monchu, Račić; Carles Pérez, Jensen, Dudu; Morón.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Recent Record: The last three meetings between these sides have ended in two draws (1–1) and one Aris victory (2–0).
Cup History: Panathinaikos beat Aris 1–0 in the 2024 Greek Cup Final.
Discipline: This fixture is historically heated; the last five meetings have averaged 5.4 yellow cards per game.
OAKA Factor: Panathinaikos has only lost once in their last eight home games at the Olympic Stadium.
Tactical Analysis: Control vs. Counter
Panathinaikos will likely look to control the tempo through Adam Gnezda Čerin and Pedro Chirivella, hoping to suffocate an Aris midfield that is missing several starters. The home side's success will depend on how effectively Karol Świdérski can find space against Aris's makeshift center-back pairing.
Aris will adopt a pragmatic approach, sitting in a 4-5-1 block and looking to release Loren Morón on the counter-attack. If Aris can weather the initial 20-minute storm, the pressure from the home fans could begin to work in their favor.
Match Prediction
Given the extensive injury list for Aris and Panathinaikos’s strong home record, the hosts are the clear favorites. However, Cup ties between these two are rarely high-scoring affairs.
Final Score Prediction: Panathinaikos 2–1 Aris (AET)
