Paks vs Panathinaikos

Panathinaikos controlled the opening exchanges without creating clear chances. Paks, playing in their first European home match of the season, sat deep in a 3-4-3 shape and looked to hit on the counter.

The breakthrough came four minutes before half-time in unfortunate circumstances for the hosts. A Panathinaikos corner caused chaos in the Paks box, and D. Bor, under pressure from the advancing Greek attackers, could only deflect the ball past his own goalkeeper Ádám Kovácsik.

The visitors doubled their lead 11 minutes into the second half. Ghanaian forward Andrews Tetteh drove down the right flank and delivered a low cross that Argentinian winger Santino Andino met first-time, slotting past Kovácsik to make it 2–0.

Paks responded through their veteran striker Dániel Böde. Kristóf Horváth provided the assist from the left, and Böde finished calmly in the 71st minute to halve the deficit and give the home side a lifeline.

Andino's goal in the 56th minute proved decisive. Paks had started the second half with more intent after substituting M. Szekszárdi for M. Gyorfi at the interval, but Tetteh and Andino combined to kill the momentum before it could build. The goal forced Paks to commit more men forward, leaving gaps that Panathinaikos — who registered 17 shots (five on target) to Paks' 14 (two on target) — could have exploited further.

Santino Andino (Panathinaikos) — The Argentinian winger scored the crucial second goal and was a constant threat on the flank. His movement off the ball caused problems for the Paks defence throughout the 69 minutes he was on the pitch before being substituted.

Andrews Tetteh (Panathinaikos) — Provided the assist for Andino's goal with a powerful run and precise cross. The Ghanaian's physicality and pace gave Paks trouble down the right side.

Dániel Böde (Paks) — The 39-year-old striker scored the goal that kept the tie alive, showing his trademark composure in front of goal. He was substituted shortly after the hour mark but his strike gave Paks hope heading into the second leg.

Ádám Kovácsik (Paks) — Made three saves to keep the scoreline respectable, though he could do little about any of the goals.

Panathinaikos' 60% possession and 17 shots (five on target) reflect a side that controlled the tempo without being entirely dominant. Paks' 14 shots but only two on target tells a story of a team that could create half-chances but lacked the precision to test Iñaki Peña in the Panathinaikos goal. The visitors' three yellow cards — shown to Triantafyllos Tsapras (53'), Adam Gnezda Čerin (55') and Panagiotis Pantelidis (90+1') — suggest a disciplined defensive approach that occasionally crossed the line, but none proved costly.

Panathinaikos take a 2–1 aggregate lead into the second leg at the Athens Olympic Stadium on 30 July 2026. The Greek side will be favourites to progress, but Paks' away goal — Böde's 71st-minute strike — means the Hungarians need only a 1–0 win in Athens to advance on aggregate.

The winner of this tie will face either Paide Linnameeskond (Estonia) or FK Zira (Azerbaijan) in the third qualifying round, with Paide holding a 1–0 lead after the first leg.

For Paks, this was their first competitive match of the 2026/27 season. The Hungarian side will need to raise their levels in the return leg, particularly in terms of shot accuracy and defensive organisation from set pieces.

Panathinaikos did enough to win the first leg without hitting top gear. The own goal handed them an early advantage, and Andino's strike gave them a comfortable buffer. But Böde's away goal means the tie is far from over — Paks showed enough in the second half to suggest they can cause problems in Athens. The Greeks will need to be sharper in the return leg to avoid an upset.