Will Samsunspor cause an upset?
Many of you will remember Thomas Reis from his time in the Bundesliga. Now 51, he first coached VfL Bochum and later Schalke 04, who were relegated to the German second division. He consistently instructs his teams to play man-to-man defense. We expect to see this tactic, at least in phases, in the Samsunspor vs. Panathinaikos Athens tip.
The German has been coaching the Black Sea club since last season and has been quite successful. Reis took over from his predecessor Markus Gisdol, who had only just managed to keep the team in the league after their promotion in 2023. Without any notable transfers, Reis has transformed the team from a relegation candidate into a European Cup participant.
If the home team fails in the Samsunspor vs. Panathinaikos Athens prediction, they will automatically slip into the league phase of the Conference League. After the best finish in the club’s history last season (3rd in the Süper Lig), the hosts are eager for another sensation.
When comparing the Samsunspor vs. Panathinaikos Athens betting odds, it is striking how closely the betting providers with German licenses see the two opponents. Although the Greek visitors are much more decorated, the Greens are only traveling to Turkey as slight favorites in the odds.
We would advise against a classic 3-way bet in view of the Samsunspor vs. Panathinaikos Athens odds. Too many different game scenarios are conceivable after the balanced first leg (1-2). The only question is whether the Red Lightning from the Black Sea can cope with the magnitude of this pairing.
In the past Süper Lig season, Reis’s team failed to celebrate a single victory against any of the three top Turkish teams. However, with passionate work against the ball, the hosts can force an exciting duel.
Samsunspor – Panathinaikos Athens Head-to-head comparison / H2H record
These two clubs have never faced each other before, which is why the first leg (1-2) is the only point of comparison. Samsunspor took an early lead but ended up losing the game within eight minutes. A large imbalance in the expected goals (0.38:0.89) prevented Reis’s team from winning.
Both clubs postponed their respective league games last weekend with a view to Thursday’s decisive duel. While Panathinaikos has still not played a league game, the home side is once again in a good position after two wins from two games in the Süper Lig.
Samsunspor – Panathinaikos Athens Tip
Within a year, Thomas Reis has formed a well-functioning team that has struck a pleasant balance between freedom and discipline. At the national level, Samsunspor conceded only one expected goal (3rd) in their first two league games.
In addition, the first leg could well have ended 1-1 had it not been for goalkeeper Okan Kocuk’s faux pas, who surprisingly missed the ball after a header following a corner. Otherwise, however, he is considered a solid backup, which is why we do not expect any further mistakes.
The visitors hope to live up to their role as favorites. Since 2016, the Greens have only participated in the Europa League once. In addition, their last participation in the Champions League was even further in the past (2010).
Rui Vitoria’s team is still lacking rhythm. Both matches against Shakhtar Donetsk ended 0-0, which is why a penalty shootout was necessary. Previously, the Greek representative had scored only one goal in two matches against Glasgow Rangers (0-2, 1-1). Our recommendation: “Under 2.5 goals” with odds of 1.80 at Merkur Bets.
