Viktoria Plzen – Panathinaikos: a last-16 spot up for grabs at the Doosan Arena 
Viktoria Plzen host Panathinaikos on Thursday in the Czech Republic for the Europa League return. After a cracking 2-2 in the first leg, nothing’s decided: the winner punches a ticket to the last 16. Ninety minutes, cup-final feel.
Viktoria Plzen: solid and hard to break down 
Plzen go in with swagger. Saturday’s 0-0 with Sparta Prague stretched their unbeaten run across all competitions to nine matches. In Athens they fought back for a priceless 2-2 thanks to a late Tomas Ladra equaliser — that goal gives them a slight psychological edge heading home.
The Doosan Arena has become a fortress — just one defeat since late September and none since early November. Even after the winter exit of top scorer Durosinmi, the hosts stay drilled and awkward to play against.
Panathinaikos: European know-how to keep them alive 
Panathinaikos arrive under pressure. They’re hit-and-miss in the league — even after beating OFI Crete they’re miles off the top of the Super League. In Europe they haven’t lost in six matches, true, but they haven’t actually won in the competition since late November — shows they struggle to finish things off.
Rafael Benítez, a two-time winner of this competition, brings experience that could matter, but Panathinaikos’ recent away form looks fragile.
Likely lineups
Viktoria Plzen : Wiegele ; Dweh, Spacil, Chalupa ; Memic, Cerv, Hrosovsky, Visinsky ; Souare, Ladra, Vydra
Panathinaikos : Lafont ; Ingason, Palmer-Brown, Touba ; Calabria, Bakasetas, Sanches, Kyriakopoulos ; Pantovic, Taborda, Tetteh
Football Prediction: Viktoria Plzen vs Panathinaikos
Viktoria Plzen to win
Unbeaten for weeks and rock-solid at home, Plzen look better equipped to nick this one, even against Panathinaikos’ European know-how.
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