The first leg of the 2024/25 Conference League playoff between Vikingur Reykjavik (Iceland) and Panathinaikos (Greece) will take place on February 13 at the Bolt Arena in Helsinki, Finland. Vikingur Reykjavik vs. Panathinaikos: prediction and statistics.
Vikingur Reykjavik
Arnar Gunnlaugsson's side drew 1-1 away against Austrian side LASK in their last Conference League match. Consequently, Vikingur managed to collect points for the fourth time in their last five matches in this tournament (2 wins, 2 draws). Eight points were enough for the Icelanders to secure 19th place in the standings and advance to the playoffs. Notably, the club's low scoring record, with only seven goals in the group stage, saw them surpass only two teams among those advancing to the playoffs.
Defender Gunnar Vatnhamar will miss the match due to injury. Defender Karl Gunnarsson and forward Nikolaj Hansen are suspended.
- The club has not won in regular time in 5 of their last 7 Conference League matches (3 draws, 2 losses).
- The team has not scored more than once in 90 minutes in 5 of their last 7 matches in this European competition.
- The Icelanders have conceded a maximum of one goal in regular time in 6 of their last 8 Conference League matches.
Predicted lineup for Vikingur Reykjavik (4-2-3-1)
Ingvar Jonsson – Jon Fjoluson, Karl Gunnarsson, Peter Ekrout, David Atlason – Viktor Andresson, Gisli Thordarson – Valdimar Ingimundarson, Ari Sigurpalson, Erlingur Agnarsson – Nikolaj Hansen.
Panathinaikos
In the last round of the group stage, Rui Vitoria's side comfortably defeated Dinamo Minsk 4-0 at home. As a result, Panathinaikos secured their third consecutive victory in the Conference League, keeping a clean sheet in each match, and confidently advanced to the playoffs. The Greeks collected ten points and finished 13th in the standings, just one point short of the top eight.
Midfielder Facundo Pellistri will miss the match due to injury.
- The team has not lost in regular time in 5 of their last 7 Conference League matches (4 wins, 1 draw).
- The club scored in 90 minutes in nine previous matches in this European competition.
- The Greeks scored first in regular time in 6 of their last 7 Conference League matches.
Predicted lineup for Panathinaikos (4-3-3)
Yuri Lodygin – Sverrir Ingi Ingason, Tin Jedvaj, Giannis Kotsiras, Philipp Max – Willian Arão, Nemanja Maksimović, Azzedine Ounahi – Martins Tete, Alexander Eremeev, Filip Djuricic.
Referee
Rohit Saggi (Norway)
Matches – 8 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 41;
Average yellow cards per match – 5.1;
Red cards shown – 4;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 25%.
Vikingur Reykjavik vs. Panathinaikos: Match Prediction
For the Icelanders, reaching the playoffs of a European competition is a significant achievement. In the group stage of this season's Conference League, as well as in previous seasons, Vikingur has shown they can offer strong resistance and successfully contain opponents' attacks. The team has not allowed a large number of goals; over 18 matches in this European competition, they have only conceded more than two goals in regular time once.
Although the Greeks are clear favorites in this matchup, a stronger performance is expected from them in the home leg. Historically, Panathinaikos has not been particularly prolific in the Conference League; in 9 of their last 10 matches in this tournament, they have not scored more than two goals, and in seven of those, they were limited to just one goal.
I believe the Icelandic defenders will be able to withstand the attacking line of their opponents. My prediction: Panathinaikos Individual Total Under 2.5
* The starting lineup for each team is based on their previous match in this tournament.
