Three Greek teams in the group stage of Europa and the Conference League, three Greek teams present in the new project of the European competitions and with quite a few hopes of continuing their course in the playoffs (if they finish in positions 9-24, something quite possible) or even in the knockout phase of 16 (if they manage to enter the top eight of the standings, which theoretically seems much more possible for Panathinaikos in the Conference League due to the strength of its opponents). But another theory and another practice.
Huge opportunity
What is certain is that the three will play a minimum of 22 games (from eight the two in the Europa League and six for the “green” ones in the Confe-
rence), which means that champions PAOK, Conference League holders Olympiacos and Greek Cup winners Panathinaikos have a huge opportunity to rise to the occasion and collect in this historic season for UEFA the most points ever and raise Greece from the 15th place it is now even to the 11th place in the European ranking with even more bonuses.
In the Europa League our two representatives, based on their opponents and theoretically always, have the possibility to primarily reach the playoffs, as the 9-24 positions leading to them are an achievable goal. As the experts report, any team that collects 12 points definitely goes to the playoffs.
Beware of traps
The champion PAOK can achieve four wins in as many games in Toumba (Slavia, Ferencvaros, Plzen, Steaua) as none of his opponents scare him. You just need to pay attention to the pitfalls that hide these matches, as happened with Malmo in the 3rd qualifier of the Champions League. The “two-headed” has three very difficult away matches (Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray), while the trip to Riga does not scare him.
For Olympiakos, the draw hides many pitfalls and even with familiar opponents both competitively and at… transfer level. His Porto Karmo and his Braga That’s rightwhom Olympiacos failed to keep from the Portuguese team, are two of his rivals.
From there, Rangers don’t scare him, while Lyon is in a rebuilding phase, as it was one step away from dissolution! The big trap is the ambitious Karabagh, which they will face in Faliro and against whom they lost 1-3 at home last year and drew 0-0 away. Malmo, who eliminated PAOK, is a thorn, while Twente is the most passable opponent.
Panathinaikos in the Conference, judging by the six names he will have against him, can reach the 16 directly, without going through the playoffs. Even if he has to face (in OAKA) Chelsea. The remaining five are not his best (Djurgarden, Helsinki, Boracay, Dinamo Minsk and the rookie and inexperienced New Saints of Wales).
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