- Team quality: Panathinaikos are the higher quality team on paper and have a sharper threat in Vicente Taborda, who has scored 3 goals in his last 5 games.
- Home form: Paksi FC have been solid at home in all competitions (W3, D1, L0), conceding just 4 goals in 4 games.
- Away form: Panathinaikos' away form has been mixed in all competitions (W2, D1, L3), where they've conceded 9 goals in 6 trips.
Paksi can keep it close against a Panathinaikos possession team
Match odds and outlook
The Greeks are the clear favorites for this Conference League qualification game against Paksi FC at 1.6, with the Hungarians at 5.5. The draw is 3.85, which seems a bit on the high side considering the gulf in class between the teams, although the Greeks may not have it all their own way against a stubborn and compact Paksi FC side.
Paksi's style and form
Paksi are a compact, low-risk block side that looks happiest when they can spring forward quickly and attack the second ball. György Bognár's side will have more joy on the break and second ball while Panathinaikos will want to dominate possession and press in numbers.
- In all competitions, Paksi's form has been good, but not spectacular, with three wins and two defeats from their last five games.
- They won 1-3 at Diosgyor VTK on their last outing in NB I and lost 2-1 to Scottish Premiership Dundee FC in a friendly match prior to that.
- Their home form has been better than their away form with three wins and one draw, conceding just four goals in four games.
Taborda gives visitors a cutting edge
Panathinaikos have won only two, drawn one and lost two of their last five matches, including a 3-0 home win over Grasshopper Club Zurich and a 4-1 defeat at SK Rapid Wien.
Vicente Taborda has been a big part of the success when they have found the net, scoring three of their nine goals in the last five.
The Greek side are usually a positive team and will dominate the ball, so I'm going for a Panathinaikos win with fewer than 3.5 goals in the match as the play should be contained in phases while Paksi sit deep and make them work for every chance.
