Europa League: Panathinaikos vs Plzen 19/02/2026

Panathinaikos spend a lot of money, but cannot build a proper team. The way they try to do it is not very football oriented. With constant coaching changes and ten winter transfers, it is not unreasonable that they look lost on the pitch.

Benitez keeps experimenting. He changes formations, build up style and players, without any real result. It is characteristic that he has used 25 different starting lineups in as many matches. He has already lost a large part of the board’s trust.

The team look confused and tactically unprepared, relying on occasional individual flashes. The formation with three central defenders has worked in some European matches, but it also needs an attacking plan which does not seem to exist.

Plzen are having an excellent campaign, being the only unbeaten team in the League Phase of the Europa League. They returned very strong after the winter break. They started 2026 with a 1-1 home draw against Porto, in a match where they led, were reduced to ten men from the first half and conceded the equalizer in the 90th minute, and then won 1-0 away against Basel. Afterwards they achieved three consecutive wins at the restart of the Czech league.

They have a serious and well organized team. At this moment we cannot see them as the underdog of the match. They have the edge in freshness and football plan. Panathinaikos are confused, tired and with very poor psychology. We take advantage of their favoritism and back the Asian handicap of the visitors.