Athens prepares for a high-octane clash tonight, Wednesday, February 4, 2026, as Panathinaikos hosts PAOK in the first leg of their Greek Cup semi-final. With a trip to the final at stake, the atmosphere at the Stadio Apóstolos Nikolaidis will be electric as two of Greece’s most storied clubs face off.
Under the management of Rafa Benítez, Panathinaikos is looking to leverage home advantage before the return leg in Thessaloniki, while Razvan Lucescu’s PAOK arrives in Athens as one of the most clinical sides in the country.
Match Details
Fixture: Panathinaikos vs PAOK Thessaloniki
Competition: Betsson Greek Cup (Semi-Final, 1st Leg)
Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Time: 18:30 UTC / 20:30 EET
Venue: Stadio Apóstolos Nikolaidis, Athens
Referee: Angelos Evangelou
Pre-Match Analysis
Panathinaikos: The Benítez Effect
Panathinaikos enters this tie on a high after a convincing 3-0 win over Kifisia in the Super League. The team has looked defensively more robust since Rafa Benítez took charge, recently holding Roma to a 1-1 draw in European competition.
For the "Greens," the Cup represents the most tangible path to silverware this season. Benítez is expected to prioritize a solid defensive shape to prevent PAOK from grabbing a vital away goal, relying on the creativity of Anastasios Bakasetas to spark their own attacks.
PAOK: The Double Chasers
PAOK is currently enjoying a stellar season, sitting 2nd in the Super League and fresh off a 4-1 demolition of Panserraikos. Their journey to the semi-finals was paved with a statement victory, as they eliminated the reigning champions Olympiacos in the previous round.
Despite a recent setback against Lyon in the Europa League (4-2), their domestic form is frightening. Lucescu’s side has won eight of their last nine matches, with Ayoub El Kaabi and Andrija Živković proving nearly impossible for Greek defenses to contain.
Team News & Injury Reports
Panathinaikos Team News
The hosts are navigating a significant injury list that may test their squad depth.
Out: Cyriel Dessers (Injury), Facundo Pellistri (Knock), and Filip Djuricic (Muscle injury).
Doubtful: Key midfielder Pedro Chirivella is struggling with a calf injury (72% chance of missing out) and Manolis Siopis is nursing a knee problem.
Returning: Tin Jedvaj is expected to lead the backline after a standout performance in his last outing.
PAOK Team News
PAOK travels to Athens with a relatively healthy squad but one major concern in the creative department.
Doubtful: Giannis Konstantelias is a major doubt after feeling thigh discomfort in the last match; he is undergoing late fitness tests.
Out: Luka Ivanusec remains sidelined with a long-term injury.
Available: Kiril Despodov and Andrija Živković are fully fit and expected to provide the width.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Panathinaikos (4-2-3-1):
Lafont; Calabria, Ingason, Jedvaj, Kyriakopoulos; Sanchez, Maksimović; Bakasetas, Cherin, Zaroury; Świderski.
PAOK (4-2-3-1):
Tsiftis; Kenny, Kedziora, Michailidis, Baba Rahman; Ozdoev, Meïté; Živković, Pelkas, Taison; Giakoumakis (or Chalov).
Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
Recent Meeting: PAOK won the most recent league clash 2-0 in December 2025.
No Draws: Panathinaikos and PAOK have not played out a draw in any of their last five encounters.
Defensive Form: Panathinaikos has kept three clean sheets in their last four domestic matches.
PAOK's Firepower: The visitors have scored 2+ goals in seven of their last nine matches across all competitions.
Prediction: Panathinaikos 1-1 PAOK
Cup semi-finals under Rafa Benítez are often cagey, tactical chess matches. Panathinaikos will look to keep things tight at the "Leoforos," while PAOK’s sheer attacking talent usually finds a way through at least once. A scoring draw seems the most likely outcome, leaving everything to be decided in the second leg at the Toumba.
Top Betting Tips:
Total Goals: Under 2.5. Benítez teams in first-leg knockout ties are notoriously disciplined.
Both Teams to Score: Yes. With Świderski and Živković on the pitch, both sides have enough quality to find the net.
Result: Draw. A cautious approach from both managers may see them settle for a stalemate heading back to Thessaloniki.
