Panathinaikos vs Roma
UEFA Europa League – Main Stage, Round 8
Match Date: January 29, 2026
Kick-off Time: 22:00 (Eastern European Time, Athens local time)
Venue: Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, Athens
Match Overview
In the 8th round of the Europa League main stage, Panathinaikos will host Roma in Athens. With both teams already having achieved their primary objectives in the competition, this fixture is expected to be played without excessive pressure or urgency.
Team Background and Domestic Situation
Panathinaikos once again finished second in the Greek Super League in 2025, narrowly missing out on the domestic title. The current season began poorly, but the arrival of Rafa Benítez as head coach has brought renewed structure and ambition. Despite some improvements, consistency remains an issue, and the gap to the top four has yet to be fully closed.
Roma’s recent domestic campaign saw them narrowly lose out to Juventus in the race for fourth place. Under new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, the Italian side are now aiming even higher and have shown signs of competing for the scudetto. That momentum was slightly slowed by a recent elimination from the domestic cup.
Europa League Campaign Review
Panathinaikos began the season in the Champions League qualifiers but were eliminated early by Rangers. In European competition, they opened with two goalless draws against Shakhtar Donetsk. Their resilience showed in the knockout phase, where they advanced by winning penalty shootouts against both Shakhtar and Samsunspor. In the main stage, they have recorded more victories than defeats. Against Ferencváros, they were close to losing but managed to score a late equalizer.
Roma have made it clear that the Europa League is not their top priority this season. After a 2-1 win over Nice, they suffered defeats against Lyon and Viktoria Plzeň. However, the Italians then responded with three consecutive victories, effectively securing a playoff place early. Last week, they defeated Stuttgart, with Pisilli scoring twice.
Panathinaikos vs Roma: Key Statistics and Trends
Panathinaikos have won two of their last four Europa League matches
Panathinaikos average 1.09 goals scored and 0.82 goals conceded per match
Roma are on a four-match winning streak in the competition
Roma average 1.71 goals scored and 0.71 goals conceded per match
Probable Starting Lineups
Panathinaikos (probable lineup)
Lafont – Kyriakopoulos, Touba, Ingason, Palmer-Brown, Calabria – Sanches, Bakasetas, Chirivella, Pellistri – Swiderski
Roma (probable lineup)
Svilar – Gilardi, Zelkowski, Celik – Tsimikas, Pellegrini, Soulé, Koné, Pisilli, Rensch – Ferguson
Head-to-Head History
The two teams previously met in European competition in 2010, with Roma winning both encounters.
Odds Analysis
Market | Selection | Odds
Match Result | Panathinaikos Win | 3.80
Match Result | Draw | 3.30
Match Result | Roma Win | 1.95
Total Goals | Under 2.5 Goals | 1.80
Both Teams to Score | No | 1.72
The odds reflect Roma’s superior squad depth and recent winning streak, but the relatively low total goals line suggests expectations of a tight and tactical contest rather than an open attacking battle.
Free Prediction
Despite Roma being clear favorites on paper, both teams have little incentive to push aggressively, given their already secure positions in the tournament. Panathinaikos are defensively disciplined at home, while Roma are likely to rotate and manage energy levels.
Recommended bet:
Total Under 2.5 Goals
Odds: 1.80
