Panathinaikos vs PAOK

Panathinaikos welcome PAOK to their iconic Stadio Apóstolos Nikolaidis home in Athens on Sunday evening as Super League 1 Round 3 delivers one of Greek football's fiercest rivalries. The Greens are still seeking a first league win after a sluggish start, while the visitors arrive with a perfect record, topping the table with six points from two matches.

Team News and Injury Latest

Panathinaikos fielded a celebrity-studded XI in their most recent outing against Levadiakos. Iñaki Peña – on loan from Barcelona – started in goal, with Dutch international Stefan de Vrij commanding the back line. Further forward, Manchester United loanee Facundo Pellistri and summer signing Cyriel Dessers provided the attacking impetus, Dessers getting on the scoresheet. Rui Vitória has reported no fresh injury concerns and is expected to stick with a similar line-up. For PAOK, boss Razvan Lucescu also enjoys a clean bill of health and is likely to name an unchanged side after two commanding displays.

PAOK's Perfect Start

The Thessaloniki outfit have flown out of the blocks, scoring six goals and conceding just once to collect maximum points from their opening two fixtures. The potent frontline has been clinical, while the defence – marshalled by the experienced William Troost-Ekong – has given opponents little encouragement. That ruthlessness has taken PAOK straight to the summit and they will travel to Athens full of confidence.

Panathinaikos' New-Look Squad

The Greens invested heavily over the summer in an effort to close the gap on the Super League elite. The XI that took the field against Levadiakos underlined the ambition: alongside Peña and De Vrij, the midfield featured ex-Liverpool academy product Pedro Chirivella, while Pellistri and Dessers offered genuine threat in the final third. The early results haven't matched the pedigree, so the visit of PAOK is an early acid test of how quickly these expensive pieces are meshing.

Key Battle: Pellistri vs PAOK's Full-Back

Facundo Pellistri's direct running and trickery on the right wing could be Panathinaikos' most promising avenue. The Uruguayan international looked lively last time out and will look to isolate PAOK's left-sided defender whenever he receives the ball in space. If Pellistri can consistently get the better of his marker, the Greens may find the breakthrough they desperately need to kick-start their campaign.

After two rounds, a win for PAOK would open a meaningful gap at the top and send an early statement to their title rivals. For Panathinaikos, three points in front of a raucous Leoforos crowd would breathe life into their season and begin to justify a summer of bold recruitment.