Panathinaikos vs AS Roma

The Olympic Stadium of Athens (Spyros Louis) hosts a pivotal European finale tonight, Thursday, January 29, 2026, as Panathinaikos takes on AS Roma. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET / 22:00 local).

Both sides have already secured their place in the knockout stages, but the stakes remain incredibly high. AS Roma, currently in 10th place (12 points), is chasing a top-eight finish to bypass the play-off round. Panathinaikos, sitting in 19th place (11 points), is fighting to secure a seeded spot in the play-offs to ensure a more favorable draw and a home second leg in February.

Match Information

Panathinaikos: The Benítez Blueprint

Since Rafael Benítez took the reins in late 2025, Panathinaikos has become a significantly harder team to beat. While they have struggled with draws recently (including a 1–1 against Ferencváros), their home form is imposing; they are currently on a three-match winning streak in Athens. Benítez, a specialist in European competition, will look to use his tactical "chess" skills to frustrate his Italian counterpart.

Team News and Selection:

• Suspension: Top scorer Karol Świderski is a massive miss tonight due to yellow card accumulation.

• Injury Woes: The Greek giants are without Cyriel Dessers, Filip Đuričić, and Pedro Chirivella.

• The "Calabria" Question: Former Milan captain Davide Calabria is a major doubt due to a viral infection, though he may be risked given the stakes.

• The Zaroury Factor: Anass Zaroury has been the standout performer in Europe with 4 goals and will be the primary creative outlet.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lafont; Calabria, Ingason, Touba, Kyriakopoulos; Sanches, Gnezda Čerin; Pellistri, Bakasetas, Zaroury; Tetteh.

AS Roma: Gasperini’s Resurgence

After a stuttering start to the European campaign, Gian Piero Gasperini has Roma humming. The Giallorossi arrive in Athens on a four-match winning streak in the Europa League. Gasperini, who famously won this competition with Atalanta in 2024, has instilled a high-pressing, fluid style that has overwhelmed opponents like Stuttgart and Celtic in recent weeks.

Team News and Selection:

• Striker Crisis: Roma is facing a significant injury crisis upfront. Evan Ferguson (ankle), Artem Dovbyk (groin), and Stephan El Shaarawy are all ruled out.

• The "False Nine" Solution: With January signings Donyell Malen and Robinio Vaz ineligible until the knockout rounds, Matias Soulé is expected to lead the line as a "false nine."

• Dybala Watch: Paulo Dybala traveled with the squad but is nursing a minor knee knock; he is expected to start on the bench.

• Predicted XI (3-5-1-1): Svilar; Celik, Ndicka, Ghilardi; Rensch, Pisilli, Cristante, El Aynaoui, Tsimikas; Pellegrini; Soulé.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Tactical Trends

• Historical Edge: The only previous competitive meetings came in the 2009/10 Europa League, where Panathinaikos won both legs 3–2.

• Italian Return: Roma defender Kostas Tsimikas makes a high-profile return to his home country to face his former domestic rivals.

• Early Starters: Roma has been prolific early in games, scoring 30% of their Europa League goals in the opening 15 minutes this season.

• Defensive Resilience: Panathinaikos has kept three clean sheets in their last five home matches across all competitions.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

This is a clash of two European heavyweight managers. Benítez will likely set up Panathinaikos to absorb pressure and exploit the space left behind by Gasperini’s aggressive wing-backs. Without a natural target man, Roma will rely on the technical interchanging of Pellegrini and Soulé to unlock the Greek defense.

While Panathinaikos is formidable at the Olympic Stadium, Roma’s current momentum and superior depth in midfield (led by the impressive youngster Niccolò Pisilli) might just give them the edge needed to secure that vital top-eight spot.

Final Score Prediction: Panathinaikos 1–2 AS Roma