Panathinaikos vs Fiorentina: First Leg for Conference League Round of 16

Panathinaikos takes on Fiorentina at OAKA in the first leg of the Conference League’s round of 16, aiming for a positive result ahead of the return match in Florence. The ‘greens’ face a team well-versed in the competition, having reached the final two consecutive seasons (2023, 2024), though without securing the trophy. Last year’s encounter against Olympiakos in the May 29th final at ‘OPAP Arena,’ where the Piraeus side won 1-0, remains Fiorentina’s latest game against a Greek club. Panathinaikos is currently experiencing instability in the Super League. They advanced from the playoffs by narrowly defeating Vikingur. It’s worth noting that the Irish team finished 13th in the League Phase, contrasting with Fiorentina’s third-place finish, marked by just one draw and one loss in their six matches. If Panathinaikos eliminates Fiorentina and advances to the semi-finals, they will face the winner of the Chelsea-Lugano pair, hosting the first leg. Georgios Vagiannidis made the final roster for Panathinaikos, while Rui Vitória excluded Pelistri, Gentwai, Bakasetas, and Palmer-Brown. The match between Panathinaikos and Fiorentina at OAKA for the Conference League’s round of 16 will be officiated by Belgian Erik Lambrechts, assisted by fellow Belgians Jo de Wit and Kevin Mondaini. Vim Smet serves as the fourth official, with Bram Van Driesse and Jan Boutersem handling VAR duties.