Botev Plovdiv vs Panathinaikos Prediction: Panathinaikos is expected to secure a narrow 1-0 victory against Botev Plovdiv, advancing with a 3-1 aggregate score in this Europa League qualifier.
Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv welcome Greek giants Panathinaikos to the Hristo Botev Stadium for the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie. The visitors hold a slender 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Athens, setting up an intriguing return fixture in Plovdiv.
Match Details
Competition: UEFA Europa League Qualifying Second Round, Second Leg
Date: Thursday, August 1, 2024
Kick-off: 18:00 UTC
Venue: Hristo Botev Stadium, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Match Preview
Botev Plovdiv face an uphill battle but will take heart from their away goal in Athens. The Bulgarian side has shown they can compete with Panathinaikos and will look to use their home advantage to turn the tie around.
Panathinaikos, with their greater European pedigree, will aim to control the game and protect their lead. However, they cannot afford to be complacent, as an early Botev goal could quickly change the complexion of the tie.
Both teams have demonstrated their attacking capabilities, so we could be in for an open and entertaining encounter. The first goal will be crucial in determining how the match unfolds.
Botev Plovdiv vs Panathinaikos Lineups and Team News
Botev Plovdiv
The hosts have some injury concerns affecting their squad depth. Manager Dusan Kerkez will need to adjust his lineup accordingly.
Predicted Botev Plovdiv Lineup (4-2-3-1): Balogiannis, Perera, Ukaki, Tamm, Ujah, Iliev, Akere, Igonen, Conte, Popov, Eto’o.
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos coach Diego Alonso has a full squad to choose from, with no suspensions or new injuries reported. Recent signing Tete could be in line for his debut after joining from Galatasaray.
Predicted Panathinaikos Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vilhena, Schenkeveld, Jeremejeff, Arao, Tete, Jedvaj, Mladenovic, Dragowski, Bakasetas, Djuricic, Vagiannidis.
Injured Players and Unavailable List
Botev Plovdiv:
- Atanas Chernev (centre-back) – injured
- Georgi Nikolov (striker) – out with torn ligaments, expected to be sidelined for several more weeks
Panathinaikos:
No reported injuries or suspensions
Key Players to Watch
Botev Plovdiv
Nikola Iliev – The young attacker, recently signed from Inter Milan, scored in Botev’s weekend league match and could be crucial to their attacking efforts.
Panathinaikos
Anastasios Bakasetas – The experienced Greek playmaker scored from the penalty spot in the first leg and will be key to the visitors’ creative play.
Current Situation
Panathinaikos secured a 2-1 victory in the first leg at home, giving them a slight edge heading into this crucial second leg. However, Botev Plovdiv’s away goal keeps them very much in the tie, with all to play for in front of their home supporters.
Recent Form
Botev Plovdiv
- Drew 2-2 with Lokomotiv Plovdiv (Bulgarian First League)
- Lost 2-1 to Panathinaikos (Europa League)
- Won 3-1 against Botev Vratsa (Bulgarian First League)
- Drew 2-2 with Maribor (Europa League)
Panathinaikos
- Won 2-1 against Botev Plovdiv (Europa League)
- Won 1-0 against Maccabi Netanya (Friendly)
- Won 3-1 against AEK Athens (Friendly)
Head-to-Head
The first leg encounter last week was the first-ever competitive meeting between these two sides.
Where to Watch Botev Plovdiv vs Panathinaikos Live?
Unfortunately, no specific TV or streaming information is available for viewers in the United States. Fans should check their local listings or the official UEFA channels for potential coverage options.
Botev Plovdiv vs Panathinaikos Live Streaming and TV Schedule (Other Countries):
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Moja TV, Arena Sport 2
- Bulgaria: Play Diema Xtra, Diema Sport
- Croatia: MAXtv To Go, Arena Sport 3 Croatia
- Cyprus: Cablenet Sports 2
- Greece: Cosmote Sport 1 HD
- Macedonia: Arena 2 Premium
- Montenegro: Arena 2 Premium
- Serbia: Arena 2 Premium
- Slovenia: Arena Sport 1 Slovenia
Who Will Win?
While Botev Plovdiv will be buoyed by their home support, Panathinaikos’ quality and experience at this level may prove decisive. The Greek side should have enough to see out the tie, but it won’t be straightforward.
Botev Plovdiv vs Panathinaikos Prediction: Botev Plovdiv 0-1 Panathinaikos (Panathinaikos to advance 3-1 on aggregate)
This tightly-contested affair could go either way, but Panathinaikos’ first-leg advantage may just be enough to see them through to the next round of qualifying.
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