This is a match for the 3rd round of the Europa League group phase, held at Stadion Feijenoord “De Kuip” in Rotterdam, home of Feyenoord.
Facts
- The two sides last met in the European Cup in 1984. It ended 0-0 in the Netherlands, with Panathinaikos winning the return leg in Athens 2-1.
- Both of Feyenoord’s Europa League group-stage games so far have ended without both teams scoring and with fewer than 2.5 goals.
- Four of Feyenoord’s last five European home games finished with 2-3 total goals, and four also ended without both teams scoring.
- Both of Panathinaikos’ group-stage matches have produced BTTS and over 2.5 goals.
Betting Tip: Feyenoord - Panathinaikos
Feyenoord is naturally stronger at home and plays with intensity at De Kuip, and the odds heavily favour them despite their recent European form not justifying it. On the other hand, Panathinaikos is too unpredictable and inconsistent to trust for an upset.
Both defences show weaknesses, and both sides have the potential to score. That looks like the most sensible betting direction.
- Recommendation: BTTS: Yes
- Odds: 1.75 (at the time of writing)
Feyenoord
The 0-2 home loss to Aston Villa on Matchday 2 was a deceptive result. The Dutch champions were clearly the better team, but paid for their wastefulness in front of goal and their defensive lapses. In the first half alone, they recorded 13 shots, but nothing went in.
They kept pushing with the same energy after the break, yet the visitors struck first in the 61st minute. The goal rattled Feyenoord, who lost focus and conceded a second in the 79th minute. That was their second straight defeat, having already fallen to Braga in Portugal in the opener.
Domestically, however, things look very different. Feyenoord sits at the top of the Eredivisie and continues to perform at a high level. After this match against Panathinaikos comes a crucial league showdown with PSV Eindhoven
In November, they’ll face Stuttgart (away) and Celtic (home) in the Europa League.
Panathinaikos
A dream start was later followed by a nightmare. The Greek champions opened their group campaign with a dominant 4-1 away win over Young Boys in Switzerland, but collapsed completely in the next match.
Hosting Dutch Cup winners Go Ahead Eagles, they once again showed their long-standing issues: lack of clinical finishing, defensive vulnerability, and poor transitions when caught on the counter.
They dominated the match for about an hour, finally went ahead in the 55th minute, but inexplicably dropped intensity.
The visitors took advantage, scoring twice from almost identical counterattacks down the left wing (75’ and 82’), stunning the crowd and stealing all three points.
In November, Panathinaikos will visit Malmö in Sweden and then host Sturm Graz in Greece.
