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Panathinaikos need to deliver tonight

Panathinaikos recorded only one point so far and need to win today. Their European campaign will otherwise come to its end

Panathinaikos were very close to bidding farewell to Europa League recently as they lost two away games to Dinamo and Estoril and seemed to be headed for a defeat in Eindhoven. But, Karelis scored in the Netherlands with just a few more minutes left on the clock to keep Panathinaikos in the game.

The Greek team wanted to get past Europa League group stage and cannot be happy with their current results. The Greek championship is not more successful since they play PAOK away over the weekend. But, before that, they meet PSV once again and need to win. A draw would probably see them ending their Europa League campaign and a defeat would definitely knock them out.

- We need a win but we won't rush into things. PSV are a team capable of punishing out shortcomings. I'm optimistic and always believe that my team will win. We proved that we are very close to them in the Netherlands - coach Anastasiou said.

PSV were very close to knocking out Panathinaikos two weeks ago, but the goal they conceded in the 87th minute messed with those plans to make this meeting in Athens very interesting.

PSV are on a four-game winning run in the Dutch championship, on a 12-1 goal difference and holding the top table position. But, European games are a whole other thing. Coach Cocu is very aware his team are to meet a very motivated Panathinaikos and fierce Greek fans.

- I remember what the atmosphere is like there from when I was a player. But I don't want it to be extra pressure on us. We can't let the atmosphere impress us, we have to use it to our advantage - Cocu said. PSV were defeated at Apostolos Nikolaidis in 2004 1-4, but the good things for PSV is that Panathinaikos need the win today and that might leave the Dutch team with a lot of chance for counter-attacking. 

- If we won in Eindhoven, we would have had an easier task now, but we know that we can't lose in Athens because that would get us in the trouble. We conceded in the very last minutes of the game both against Panathinaikos and Dinamo. That's a warning that we can't afford to lose focus. I expect a tough game that might be decided by a single shot or good move. We need to be better in every segment this time because Panathinakos have the advantage of home turf - Cocu said. He knows that his team usually have problems with tough and aggressive opponents.

PSV's key defender Bruma was booked in the last game which will force him to sit this one out. The inexperienced-Mirin will step in for him. Defender Tamata and midfielders Hiljemark and Schaars have been out for a while. Cocu will go with a more defense-oriented 4-2-3-1 formation.

Panathinaikos played bad first two games and then went to Eindhoven and scored a late goal to save themselves from being knocked out of group stage. The Greek championship isn't going any better than Europa League for them, with number one reason for it being the fact they had to do without top scorer Markus Berg for two and a half months. I would trust Panathinakos here even without him, and definitely plan to do so now that he's back on the team. Following that game in Eindhoven, Panathinaikos played Olympiakos and lost but then played two games home and won. PSV are, on the other hand, sailing through the Dutch championship, but the teams they face in Eredivisie are nowhere near the teams they face in Europa League. I don't agree with PSV being the favorite here, at least not such a heavy favorite. I think this will be a close game and if I were to choose the favorite, my choice would be the home team. I think they can get at least a point here.