Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Conference League match
Lens' somewhat unconvincing victory over Panathinaikos (2:1) last Thursday might not have happened at all. The French club quickly established a two-goal advantage but was reduced to ten men by the 20th minute, making it much harder to defend.
Lens
Panathinaikos likely missed a good opportunity to gain an advantage on Lens' field. They dominated possession (62-38) and matched Lens in shots (10-10), but failed to truly capitalise on their numerical superiority. Over the weekend, the team managed a win in the Super League against Levadiakos (1:0) thanks to Facundo Pellistri's performance: the Uruguayan, on loan from Manchester United, assisted Andraž Sporar. Therefore, we expect heroics from him in the upcoming game.
Panathinaikos
A series of three wins at the start of the campaign from Lens is unlikely to intimidate Panathinaikos, as their opponents have been in crisis. Besides the suspended Facundo Medina, Lens will also miss defensive leader Kevin Danso, whose transfer to Roma has been agreed upon. Over the weekend against Brest (2:0), Lens allowed 0.67 xGA with 10 shots — they tend to give their opponents opportunities to create danger.
Lens - Panathinaikos Prediction
Both teams are capable of reproducing their scoring success in the second leg. Panathinaikos may be slightly inferior to Lens in terms of quality, but the French side’s defensive issues give the Greek team a chance on their home turf.
