Looking to take one step towards a spot in the last 16, Vikingur Reykjavik will welcome Panathinaikos to Bolt Arena for the first leg of their Conference League knockout phase playoff on Thursday evening.
The Vikes stumbled to a spot in the top 24 of the league phase, whilst the Greens will be aiming to return to winning ways following a difficult recent run on the domestic scene.
Match preview
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Following the conclusion of their league phase campaign with a 1-1 draw in Austria against LASK on December 19, Vikingur returned to competitive action for the first time in 2025 on February 6, when they secured a two-goal success over HK Kopavogs in the Icelandic League Cup.
Prior to that victory on the domestic stage, the Vikes had endured a three-game winless streak in the Conference League against FC Noah, Djurgardens and the aforementioned LASK, meaning that they failed to qualify automatically for the last 16 of the UEFA competition.
A record of two wins, two draws and two defeats from their six league phase contests allowed Vikingur to finish 19th in the 36-team standings of the Conference League, just a single point ahead of 25th-placed Hearts, who were knocked out of the competition on the final matchday in front of their own supporters.
Regardless of their performance in the remainder of the 2024-25 Conference League, the Vikes will return to UEFA's third-tier club competition during 2025-26 owing to their second-placed finish in the 2024 Icelandic top flight, with Thursday's hosts in Finland ending up three points behind domestic champions Breidablik.
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After a disappointing fourth-placed finish in the Greek Super League last season, Panathinaikos are gunning for domestic and European honours this time around, although the former of those goals has been dealt a significant blow by back-to-back defeats at the beginning of this month.
The Greens were unceremoniously dumped out of the Greece Cup by fellow giants Olympiacos last Wednesday night, four days prior to a shock defeat at the home of Aris Thessaloniki, with Thursday's visitors to Finland failing to find the net in either of those contests.
In stark contrast to Vikingur, Panathinaikos have played 10 competitive matches since their most recent Conference League battle on December 19, when they secured a comfortable four-goal success over Dinamo Minsk, with Brazilian winger Tete bagging a brace for the hosts that night.
Chasing their maiden Super League title since the 2009-10 campaign, the Greens are currently occupying third spot in the top flight of Greek football, five points behind Olympiacos in first and just three points back from AEK Athens, who are setting the pace of the chasing pack.
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Team News
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Finding the net during Vikingur's most recent Conference League clash, Ari Sigurpalsson will be providing ammunition from the flanks once again on Thursday night.
Subbed off during the half-time interval in December on the European stage, Jon Gudni Fjoluson is unlikely to start at centre-back for the Vikes in this one.
Panathinaikos are battling on without the services of Facundo Pellistri, with the former Manchester United man recovering from a hamstring problem.
There are also issues for the Greens to contend with at centre-back in the form of Tin Jedvaj, who suffered a calf injury in late January.
At 32 years of age, Willian Arao has been an important figure for the visitors this term, although he is currently fighting a lack of fitness.
Vikingur Reykjavik possible starting lineup:
Jonsson; Atalson, Andrason, Ekroth, Sigurdsson, Ibrahimagic; Agnarsson, Ingimundarson, Thordarson, Sigurpalsson; Hansen
Panathinaikos possible starting lineup:
Lodygin; Kotsiras, Mladenovic, Ingason, Max; Maksimovic, Bakasetas, Ounahi; Tete, Djuricic, Jeremejeff
We say: Vikingur Reykjavik 0-2 Panathinaikos
Only just back on the competitive grind in 2025, Vikingur might produce a leggy performance against a Greek giant on Thursday night in Finland.
Panathinaikos are hurting following back-to-back domestic defeats, but they should have enough quality to get back on track in convincing fashion in the Conference League.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
