The Greek Super League returns to the capital today, Sunday, January 11, 2026, as Panathinaikos hosts Panserraikos at the Olympic Stadium (OAKA). Kick-off is set for 19:00 UTC (21:00 local time).
While historically a David vs. Goliath matchup, this fixture carries immense weight for both sides. Panathinaikos is desperate to find consistency under their high-profile manager, while Panserraikos is fighting a grueling battle for top-flight survival.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: Stoiximan Super League (Matchday 16)
Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026
Kick-off: 19:00 UTC / 21:00 local / 14:00 ET
Venue: Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis (OAKA), Athens
Referee: Konstantinos Katikos (Greece)
Broadcast: Cosmote Sport (Greece), Bet365 (Global)
The Storyline: A New Era vs. A Relegation Scrap
Panathinaikos: The Benítez Project
Since the high-profile appointment of Rafael Benítez in October 2025, Panathinaikos has been a team in transition. Currently sitting in 6th place with 22 points, the "Shamrocks" are 17 points adrift of leaders Olympiacos. Benítez has focused on defensive discipline, but a recent 2–0 loss to PAOK highlighted the work still to be done. Playing at the OAKA tonight, the mission is simple: secure three points and close the gap on the top four.
Panserraikos: Fighting the Odds
For Gerard Zaragoza and his Panserraikos side, the situation is critical. The "Lions" are currently bottom of the table (14th) with just 5 points from 15 matches. They enter tonight on a devastating five-match losing streak and have remarkably failed to score a single goal in their last five league outings. Despite the bleak statistics, a gutsy defensive display in Athens could provide the spark they need to turn their season around.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Panathinaikos Team News
International Duty: The hosts are without goalkeeper Alban Lafont, who is away at AFCON.
Suspended: Key creative hub Anastasios Bakasetas is out, alongside Erik Palmer-Brown and Pavlos Pantelidis.
Injuries: Facundo Pellistri, Renato Sanches, and Cyriel Dessers are all unavailable.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kotsaris; Calabria, Jedvaj, Touba, Mladenović; Siopis, Chirivella; Zaroury, Tetê, Djuričić; Świderski.
Panserraikos Team News
Injury List: Manager Zaragoza is missing Yoël Armougom, Viktoras Sakalidis, and Zacharias Papadimitriou.
Attacking Hope: Veteran striker Nikolaos Karelis is expected to lead the line, hoping to break the team's lengthy goal drought.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Tinaglini; Georgiadis, Volnei, De Marco, Tsaousis; Liasos, Brooks, Omeonga; Nunnely, Karelis, Sofianos.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Recent Meeting: Panathinaikos won the reverse fixture 3–0 in November 2025.
The Scoring Drought: Panserraikos has not scored a goal in over 450 minutes of league football.
Defensive Woes: The visitors haven't kept a clean sheet in 20 consecutive matches.
Athens Advantage: Panathinaikos has won 4 of their last 5 home games against the Serres-based club.
Tactical Analysis: Benítez’s Rigidity vs. Zaragoza’s Block
Expect Rafael Benítez to demand total control. Without Bakasetas, the creative burden falls on Tetê, who has been the team's standout performer this season. Panathinaikos will likely push their full-backs high to overwhelm a Panserraikos defense that has conceded 37 goals this season.
Zaragoza will likely "park the bus," setting up a compact 4-5-1 in hopes of dragging the game into a stalemate. Their only real threat will come from set-pieces or catching the Panathinaikos high-line on a rare break.
Match Prediction
Given Panserraikos's historical struggles in Athens and their current inability to find the back of the net, a comfortable victory for the hosts is the expected outcome.
Final Score Prediction: Panathinaikos 3–0 Panserraikos
