An Early Preview of all Greek Clubs in Europe

An Early Preview of 

All Greek Clubs in Europe


By Stephen Kountourou 




Even in the off-season, the narrative never stops in Greek football. This is mainly thanks to clubs who qualified for Europe last season being on the verge of competing in the qualifiers of all three of UEFA’s major competitions. The Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.


For many it is imperative that Greece has as many teams qualify for the European group stages as possible, to help improve the nations diminishing UEFA Coefficient ranking. Here is who each Greek club the qualifiers could or will be facing this summer. 


AEK Athens


The reigning Super League champions, AEK have the least clear potential opponent of all the Greek clubs in Europe this season. Being in the Champions League 3rd round qualifiers they will not be finding out how they will face until the draw on the 24th of July. Potential opponents include Slovan Bratislava, FC Copenhagen, Ferencvaros, Galatasaray, Dinamo Zagreb and Qarabag FC.


All six are difficult prospects for the champions. But ideally, the most realistic way of reaching the Champions League playoffs would be to avoid the likes of Galatasaray and Dinamo Zagreb while hoping to face either Slovan Bratislava FC Copenhagen, Ferencvaros or Qarabag FC despite the latter four teams being far from easy opponents for any Greek side. 


Panathinaikos


The Prasini, who enter the Champions League second qualifying round in less than a month, already know their opponents having been drawn to play SC Dnipro-1. While Panathinaikos can realistically hope to reach the next round of the qualifiers they cannot underestimate the Ukrainian side.


Greek clubs have had a recent history of struggling against sides from the eastern European country. PAO will first travel to Slovakia where Dnipro are playing their home matches before hosting the second leg at Leoforos. If they qualify for the 3rd qualifying round they could face Rangers, Braga, PSV Eindhoven or Marseille, any of whom would be a tough prospect for Panathinaikos.


Olympiakos 


Thrylos are playing the waiting game that could see them either become favourites or underdogs in the Europa League 3rd qualifying round. The match in question is the Champions League 2nd qualifying round between Belgian side Genk and Swiss side Servette. Whoever loses this tie will drop into the Europa League 3rd-round qualifiers.


The ideal opponent for Olympiakos would be Servette as Greek clubs have a good record against Swiss opponents. Genk could prove to be much of a challenge for Thrylos if they found themselves out of the Champions League qualifiers. Olympiakos will have to wait for another month to find out who they will be playing. 


PAOK


Much like Panathinaikos, PAOK has already been drawn to face an opponent in the Europa Conference League 2nd qualifying round in the form of Israeli side Beitar Jerusalem. A favourable opponent for the Asprómavri but as has been the case with Greek clubs in European qualifiers over the last few years, it is never that simple.


Greek sides have consistently underperformed in the qualifiers against opponents who many would expect them to comfortably defeat over two legs, but instead, see themselves exiting against in the qualifiers on numerous occasions. This is another potential stumbling block for PAOK who need to properly prepare for a side that has a deeply passionate and controversial home crowd.


Aris 


The Kitrinomavroi will also have to wait to learn who they will be facing in the Europa Conference League 2nd qualifying round. Aris could face either Armenian side Ararat-Armenia or Albanian side Egnatia.


Either opponent would be ideal for Aris on paper but once again both could also be seen as a potential stumbling block if they are not properly prepared for the qualifiers. After the 20th of July, which is the second leg between the two teams, Aris will officially know who they will be facing.   



@SteveKountourou 


Hellas Football 



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