Panathinaikos vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction 07.08.2025 | UEFA Europa League

Inconsistent performances and mixed results throughout the preseason carried over into Panathinaikos’ official matches this season, culminating in a disappointing 3-1 aggregate defeat to Scottish side Rangers, which ended their Champions League dreams prematurely.

The biggest concern for Athens club under coach Rui Vitoria is the glaring disorganization at the back, as his team has conceded goals in four of their last five matches across all competitions, sending a clear warning ahead of their clash against the offensively potent Shakhtar.

Although their most recent home games saw them lose 1-0 Olympiacos and draw 1-1 with Rangers, PAO's performances at the Olympic Stadium of Athens have been impressive in the wider context, winning 13 out of their last 15 matches in front of their fervent crowd.

Right-back Georgios Vagiannidis returns from suspension after being sent off in the first leg against Rangers and is set to start Tuesday’s European clash with Shakhtar, while Manolis Siopis remains doubtful due to a training injury.

For the first time after eight straight seasons in the group stage of Europe's elite competition, Shakhtar will be absent from the Champions League race, having suffered a dramatic dip in form last term that saw them finish only third in the Ukrainian top flight – their worst league result since the distant 1995-96 campaign.

As a result, the Miners were forced to settle for a place in the qualifiers of UEFA’s secondary competition, but they’ve since underlined their lofty ambitions of reaching the league phase—first steamrolling Finnish outfit Ilves 6-0 on aggregate before brushing aside Besiktas 6-2 across both legs—arriving for their next European test in red-hot form.

Determined to reclaim their place atop Ukrainian football as swiftly as possible, the Donetsk giants kicked off their domestic campaign with a thin 1-0 win, eventually breaking down a stubborn Epitsentr side through a late strike from substitute Kaua Elias in the 79th minute.

At first glance, coach Arda Guler appears to have injected a powerful team spirit and fresh energy into the ranks of the Ukrainian giants, who under his leadership remain unbeaten this season, securing four wins from their opening five competitive matches.

Shakhtar arrives in Athens almost at full strength, with midfielder Dmytro Kryskiv the only absentee as he continues his recovery from a muscle injury.