Match Introduction

The third-round fixture of the 2025/26 general stage will feature Feyenoord (Netherlands) against Panathinaikos (Greece) on October 23 at the iconic De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam. This comprehensive preview delves into the teams’ current form, statistical insights, and offers a compelling prediction for the “Feyenoord” – “Panathinaikos” clash.

Feyenoord’s Current Form

The Dutch giants have endured a challenging start to their European campaign, succumbing to defeats in both of their opening group stage matches against Braga (0:1) and Aston Villa (0:2). This marks their most uninspired performance in European competitions since the 2017/18 season. Feyenoord finds themselves on a four-game winless streak in the Europa League, having previously secured two draws. A notable concern is their inability to find the back of the net in two consecutive matches, starkly contrasting their earlier seven-game scoring run in this tournament. Furthermore, they have conceded goals in five consecutive Europa League fixtures. Currently, Robin Van Persie’s squad is positioned 35th in the overall tournament standings.

Feyenoord Key Statistics

• Feyenoord’s last 6 Europa League matches have seen no more than two goals scored in 5 of those encounters.
• At their home ground in this competition, the team has remained unbeaten in 6 of their last 7 games (4 victories, 2 draws).
• The club has allowed goals in 9 of their previous 12 home fixtures in the Europa League.

Feyenoord Provisional Lineup (4-3-3)*

Timon Wellenreuther – Gjivai Zechiël, Anel Ahmedhodžić, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Gijs Smal – Sem Steijn, Hwang In-Beom, Luciano Valente – Ayase Ueda, Anis Hadj-Moussa, Leo Sauer.

Feyenoord Injury Update

Defenders Gernot Trauner, Thomas Beelen, Malcolm Ebiowei, and midfielders Quinten Timber, Jakub Moder are currently unavailable due to injuries.

Panathinaikos’ Recent Performance

The Greek side experienced a setback in the previous round, suffering a 2:1 home defeat to Go Ahead Eagles. This loss brought an end to their impressive six-match unbeaten run in the Europa League, which included 3 wins and 3 draws. Moreover, it was the first instance in their last 10 tournament games where the club conceded more than one goal. Despite the recent defeat, Panathinaikos has demonstrated their scoring prowess, finding the net in 3 of their last 4 Europa League matches. Under the guidance of Christos Kontis, the team currently occupies the 12th spot in the standings.

Panathinaikos Key Statistics

• Panathinaikos has successfully kept a clean sheet in 4 of their last 5 away fixtures in the Europa League.
• The team boasts an unbeaten record in their last 5 away games in this tournament (3 wins, 2 draws).
• Panathinaikos has scored in 5 of their last 7 away Europa League encounters.

Panathinaikos Provisional Lineup (4-5-1)*

Alban Lafont – Ahmed Touba, Giannis Kotsiras, Erik Palmer-Brown, Giorgos Kyriakopoulos – Martins Tete, Anastasios Bakasetas, Anass Zaroury, Pedro Chirivella, Adam Gnezda-Cerin – Karol Swiderski.

Panathinaikos Injury Update

Midfielders Renato Sanches, Facundo Pellistri, forward Cyriel Dessers, and defender Giorgos Kyriakopoulos are all nursing injuries and will miss the upcoming match.

Match Referee Profile

Harm Osmers (Germany)

Total Matches Officiated – 10 (International fixtures, 2024/25 – 2025/26);

Yellow Cards Issued (including second cautions) – 53;

Average Yellow Cards per Match – 5.3;

Red Cards Issued – 2;

Average Fouls per Match – 22;

Penalties Awarded – 40%.

Feyenoord vs Panathinaikos Betting Prediction

The Dutch side has been unable to delight their supporters with a Europa League victory for five consecutive matches. In the current iteration of the tournament, they are yet to open their scoring account. It’s worth noting that prior to their recent encounter with Aston Villa, Feyenoord enjoyed a six-match unbeaten run at home in this competition (4 wins, 2 draws). However, two of these victories were secured by the narrowest of margins. While they did register two comprehensive wins during this period, these came against opponents who were clearly outmatched.

Panathinaikos likely underestimated their opponents in the last round. Their defeat to another Dutch representative brought an end to a commendable long unbeaten streak in the Europa League. Crucially, the Greek club remains undefeated in their last five consecutive away matches in the Europa League (3 wins, 2 draws), conceding a mere single goal over this impressive stretch. Their robust defensive discipline will undoubtedly be a significant factor favoring Christos Kontis’s men. Additionally, 2 of their 3 previous away defeats in this European competition have been by a single-goal difference, indicating their resilience.

My prediction: Panathinaikos with a handicap (+1.5) at odds of 1.48.

* The starting lineup for each team is based on their last match in this tournament.