Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Panathinaikos kickstart their Europa League campaign with a home game against Botev Plovdiv. PAO have yet to kick off the new domestic season, but their performances in warm-up games against AEK Larnaca (3-1) and Netanya (1-0) are giving fans a reason for optimism ahead of upcoming fixtures. Even though Brazil ace Bernard left the club, home win should be considered as Panathinaikos have turned their Olympic Stadium of Athens into a real fortress.
Botev Plovdiv, on the other hand, did well to beat Botev Vratsa in the opening match of the new Parva Liga campaign, with Martin Sekulic scoring a brace. The Bulgarians did well to eliminate Maribor in the Europa League first qualifying round, but seeing that PAO are a real force to be reckoned with at home, we are tempted to bet on the Greeks. There are no fresh injury worries in the away team ahead of the trip to Athens.
Highlighted Team (Panathinaikos):
![Panathinaikos](https://footballpredictions.com/wp-content/plugins/fp-highlights/imageid/team/983.png)
Despite being founded on 3 February, 1908, Panathinaikos won their first domestic trophy in 1930. However, they quickly established themselves as one of the biggest clubs in Greece. Oi Prasinoi clinched their 20th Greek Superleague trophy in 2010, with the team finishing the season six points clear of their fiercest rivals Olympiakos.
There have always been fireworks in meetings between the two capital clubs and the clash between the two sides is well known as the “Derby of eternal enemies”. According to UEFA Panathinaikos are the second most-popular team football team in Greece. Speaking of the club’s European success, PAO made it to the 1970/1971 European Cup (Champions League) final, but Ajax proved to be a big catch for the Greek side in the title game.
It is well known that green trifolium (shamrock) is the club’s emblem. Giorgos Karagounis, Djibril Cisse, Emmanuel Olisadebe, Paulo Sousa and Goran Vlaovic are notable footballers who played for PAO in the past. Giourkas Seitaridis, Antonis Nikopolidis, Kostas Chalkias, Angelos Basinas, Giannis Goumas and Dimitris Papdopoulos are Panathinaikos players who helped Greece win the 2004 European Championship trophy.