Panathinaikos: Looking for a win that means a step into the top eight

Panathinaikos hosts CSKA Sofia tonight (5/11, 22:00) at OAKA, having the opportunity to make it 3/3 in the Conference League Phase and significantly approach direct qualification to the "16".

Europa Conference League

Panathinaikos

 

CSKA Sofia

The "Greens" have started their European campaign ideally, counting two wins in as many matches. In the premiere, they prevailed 2-1 over Borac Banja Luka, followed by an impressive 5-1 victory over Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan.

With six points and a particularly positive goal difference, Jacob Nystrup's team is early in the top positions of the unified standings. Another win will bring their tally to nine points and give them a strong lead in the battle for the top eight.

Europa Conference League

2026/27

• #
  Team
  P
  Pts
• #
  Team
  P
  Pts
• 1

  

  Panathinaikos

  2

  6
  1

  

  Panathinaikos

  2

  6
• 2

  

  Lugano

  2

  6
  2

  

  Lugano

  2

  6
• 3

  

  Brann

  2

  6
  3

  

  Brann

  2

  6
• 4

  

  Trabzonspor

  2

  6
  4

  

  Trabzonspor

  2

  6
• 5

  

  FC Twente

  2

  6
  5

  

  FC Twente

  2

  6
• 6

  

  Monaco

  2

  6
  6

  

  Monaco

  2

  6
• 7

  

  St.Truiden

  2

  6
  7

  

  St.Truiden

  2

  6
• 8

  

  Hajduk Split

  2

  6
  8

  

  Hajduk Split

  2

  6
• 9

  

  Brighton & Hove Albion

  2

  4
  9

  

  Brighton & Hove Albion

  2

  4
• 10

  

  FC Koebenhavn

  2

  4
  10

  

  FC Koebenhavn

  2

  4
• 11

  

  Universitatea Craiova

  2

  4
  11

  

  Universitatea Craiova

  2

  4
• 12

  

  Mjaellby

  2

  4
  12

  

  Mjaellby

  2

  4
• 13

  

  Ajax

  2

  3
  13

  

  Ajax

  2

  3
• 14

  

  Borac Banja Luka

  2

  3
  14

  

  Borac Banja Luka

  2

  3
• 15

  

  Atalanta

  2

  3
  15

  

  Atalanta

  2

  3
• 16

  

  Braga

  2

  3
  16

  

  Braga

  2

  3
• 17

  

  Gent

  2

  3
  17

  

  Gent

  2

  3
• 18

  

  Freiburg

  2

  3
  18

  

  Freiburg

  2

  3
• 19

  

  FC Nordsjaelland

  2

  2
  19

  

  FC Nordsjaelland

  2

  2
• 20

  

  Egnatia

  2

  2
  20

  

  Egnatia

  2

  2
• 21

  

  Riga FC

  2

  2
  21

  

  Riga FC

  2

  2
• 22

  

  FK Crvena Zvezda

  2

  1
  22

  

  FK Crvena Zvezda

  2

  1
• 23

  

  CSKA Sofia

  2

  1
  23

  

  CSKA Sofia

  2

  1
• 24

  

  Jablonec

  2

  1
  24

  

  Jablonec

  2

  1
• 25

  

  FC Midtjylland

  2

  1
  25

  

  FC Midtjylland

  2

  1
• 26

  

  AGF

  2

  1
  26

  

  AGF

  2

  1
• 27

  

  Pafos FC

  2

  1
  27

  

  Pafos FC

  2

  1
• 28

  

  Hearts

  2

  1
  28

  

  Hearts

  2

  1
• 29

  

  Iberia 1999

  2

  1
  29

  

  Iberia 1999

  2

  1
• 30

  

  Getafe

  2

  1
  30

  

  Getafe

  2

  1
• 31

  

  Kairat Almaty

  2

  1
  31

  

  Kairat Almaty

  2

  1
• 32

  

  Thun

  2

  0
  32

  

  Thun

  2

  0
• 33

  

  Lincoln Red Imps FC

  2

  0
  33

  

  Lincoln Red Imps FC

  2

  0
• 34

  

  KuPS

  2

  0
  34

  

  KuPS

  2

  0
• 35

  

  Inter Club d'Escaldes

  2

  0
  35

  

  Inter Club d'Escaldes

  2

  0
• 36

  

  FK Kauno Zalgiris

  2

  0
  36

  

  FK Kauno Zalgiris

  2

  0

Play-offs — round of 16

Play-offs — round of 32

The importance of the upcoming schedule

The match against CSKA gains even greater weight due to the demanding schedule awaiting Panathinaikos in the continuation of the League Phase.

After tonight's game, the "Trifyli" will play two consecutive away matches. On November 26, they will face Nordsjælland in Denmark and on December 10, Freiburg in Germany. The European journey will conclude on December 17, with the home match against Brighton.

These are three games of increased difficulty. That is why Panathinaikos wants to enter the final stretch already having nine points, in order to manage the last matchdays with greater comfort.

The victory against CSKA Sofia does not in itself guarantee a place in the top eight, but it can be the most important step so far for direct qualification to the round of "16".