Panathinaikos 2-1 Samsunspor with a comeback at OAKA — The Greens will fight for qualification on 28/8 in Samsun. Goals by Kyriakopoulos and Palmer-Brown.

Final whistle:
Panathinaikos 2-1

Substitution: Bregu comes on for Swiderski.

Score: 2-1

Palmer-Brown scores his first goal in five years!

The Turkish side pushing for an equalizer from set pieces.

Still 2-1 for PAO, who have also hit the woodwork twice.

Tuba’s shot hits the post!

1-1 Goal!

2-1 Goal!
From a Pellistri corner, Palmer-Brown heads it into the net.

Match in progress.

PAO Goal!
Scorer: Kyriakopoulos (66’) – After a corner, the ball fell to him and he unleashed a thunderous strike past Kocuc to make it 1-1.

Second Post!
Tuba again hits the woodwork.

PAO hits the post (64’)!
Huge chance: Swiderski connects with a Kyriakopoulos cross, his header hits the post, then Tete’s rebound shot deflects wide for a corner.

Our XI for the Europa League Playoffs☘️#Panathinaikos #PAOFC #UEL #PAOSAM pic.twitter.com/uzmtqz61gK

— Panathinaikos F.C. (@paofc_) August 21, 2025

Panathinaikos starting XI:
Dragowski, Kotsiras, Toumba, Palmer-Brown, Kyriakopoulos, Bakasetas, Chirivella, Čerin, Tete, Swiderski, Pellistri.

It is reminded that the second leg is scheduled for Thursday, August 28 at 20:00. Panathinaikos requested and had their Super League opener against OFI postponed, while similarly, Samsunspor will not face Kasımpaşa as originally scheduled for Matchday 3 of the Turkish Super Lig.

Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (Spain)
Assistants: Diego Barbero (Spain), Miguel Martínez (Spain)
Fourth Official: Mateo Busquets Ferrer (Spain)
VAR – AVAR: Guillermo Fernández Fernández (Spain), Javier Iglesias Villanueva (Spain)

Probable Lineups

PANATHINAIKOS (Rui Vitória): Dragowski, Kotsiras, Palmer-Brown, Toumba, Kyriakopoulos, Siopis, Chirivella, Čerin, Pellistri, Tete, Ioannidis.

SAMSUNSPOR (Thomas Reis): Koçuk, Yavru, Satka, Van Drongelen, Thomasson, Yuksel, Ntcham, Dimata, Makoumbou, Kilinc, Mouandilmadji.

This is something coach Rui Vitória hopes to fix. However, he has several absences to manage, such as Tasos Bakasetas and Filip Djuricic. In defense, Tin Jedvaj remains unavailable, while in midfield the sale of Nemanja Maksimović has created a gap in this key area. Vitória is relying heavily on captain Fotis Ioannidis as well as the excellent form of Facundo Pellistri.

On the other hand, Samsunspor will be playing their first-ever European match. Thomas Reis’ team finished third last season in Turkey’s Super Lig and has largely kept the same core squad. This was evident in the first two matches of the new domestic season:

• They beat Gençlerbirliği 2-1 in the opener at the “Samsun Yeni 19 Mayıs” with goals from Carlo Holse and Marius Mouandilmadji (penalty).
• Last Saturday (16/8), they followed up with a 1-0 away win against Kocaelispor, thanks to an own goal by goalkeeper Aleksandar Jovanović.

Panathinaikos, meanwhile, want to manage the frenzy sparked by the imminent arrival of Renato Sanches, and take a qualification advantage for the UEFA Europa League League Stage when they host Samsunspor at the Olympic Stadium (Thursday 21/8, 21:00).

The two teams will meet for the first time in their history, but clashes between Greek and Turkish clubs always carry a special weight. Rui Vitória’s “Greens” have shown a strong performance so far, despite being eliminated in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers by Rangers (2-0 loss at Ibrox, 1-1 draw at OAKA). They then secured a dramatic penalty shootout win over Shakhtar Donetsk after 210 goalless minutes (90+120).