The return play-off match of the 2025/26 Europa League between Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic) and Panathinaikos (Greece) will take place on 26 February at the Doosan Arena. The first-leg score was 2:2. Viktoria Plzen vs Panathinaikos: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Viktoria Plzen
After an entertaining draw in Greece, the home team are still unbeaten in the current Europa League campaign. Overall, Viktoria Plzen's unbeaten run in this tournament has now reached 10 matches, although it is worth noting that only three of those 10 games have ended in victory. Another negative is that in Athens the Czechs conceded more than in the previous five Europa League matches combined (one goal). On the other hand, the club scored exactly as many as they had across those five games. We can also add that Viktoria Plzen have found the net in a third consecutive European match.
- The team have avoided defeat in six of their last seven home Europa League matches (three wins, three draws).
- The Czechs have kept a clean sheet in five of their previous seven home games in this tournament.
- Five of Viktoria Plzen's last six Europa League matches have gone under the goals line.
Potential Viktoria Plzen Lineup (3-4-3)*
Florian Wiegele – Merchas Doski, Karel Spacil, Sampson Dweh – Amar Memic, Lukas Cerv, Patrik Grosovsky, Denis Visinsky – Jiri Panos, Cheick Souare, Salim Lawal.
First-choice defender Merchas Doski is suspended. Another defensive player, Jan Paluska, is unavailable due to injury.
Panathinaikos
The Greeks have also extended their unbeaten run in the Europa League, and they have now gone six matches in the competition without defeat. The draw last Thursday was Panathinaikos' fourth in a row. The club's last win in Europe came back in November, in a home match against Sturm (2:1). It is worth noting that the team have scored in eight of their previous nine matches in this season's Europa League, but at the same time the Greeks have managed just two clean sheets. Moreover, the first meeting with Viktoria Plzen produced as many goals as Panathinaikos' previous three European games combined.
- Both teams have scored in seven of the Greeks' last nine Europa League matches.
- The club have not conceded more than one goal in seven of their previous eight away games in this tournament.
- Panathinaikos have won with a (+1.5) handicap in eight of their last nine away Europa League matches.
Potential Panathinaikos Lineup (3-4-3)*
Alban Lafont – Sverrir Ingason, Erik Palmer-Brown, Ahmed Touba – Davide Calabria, Renato Sanches, Anastasios Bakasetas, Georgios Kyriakopoulos – Milos Pantovic, Vicente Taborda, Andrews Tetteh.
Midfielder Pedro Chirivella and striker Cyriel Dessers will miss out due to fitness issues.
Referee
Donatas Rumsas (Lithuania)
Matches – 8 (international fixtures, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 26;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.2;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 13%.
Viktoria Plzen vs Panathinaikos: Match Prediction
Viktoria Plzen are still without a single defeat in the current Europa League season, but two-thirds of their matches have ended in draws. Across their last six games in this tournament, the team have beaten only Basel (1:0), picking up that win away from home. On their own patch, the Czechs have managed to overcome only Malmo (3:0), who were among the weakest clubs in the Europa League league phase. Since that match, Viktoria Plzen have produced a run of three straight draws.
Panathinaikos are also extremely draw-prone, and before the trip to Plzen they put together four consecutive European draws. The team have not lost in six Europa League matches. Four of those six games were at home, but on the road the Greeks look roughly as dangerous as they do on their own ground. Going back to last season, the club have lost in 90 minutes only once in their last eight away Europa League matches (four wins, three draws).
Most likely, the visitors will make it another competitive contest and at the very least avoid defeat over 90 minutes.
Prediction: Panathinaikos, double chance
* For each team, the starting XI shown is from their last match in this tournament.
