Big-match preview: The New Saints v Panathinaikos

Both Saints and the Greek giants go into this evening’s big game under the lights at Shrewsbury Town’s Croud Meadow chasing points.

Panathinaikos are currently 24th in the league phase standings, with four points from four games, while Saints are in 29th spot with three points to their name.

Saints impressively beat Astana from Kazakhstan 2-0 in October to put their first points on the board.

They have been competitive in their three other league phase fixtures, losing 2-0 to Fiorentina in Italy and 2-1 against Irish club Shamrock Rovers, before last month’s narrow 1-0 reverse at home to Swedish side Djurgarden.

With the top 24 teams from the 36 sides competing in the league phase of the competition progressing to the knockout phase play-offs in the new year, Saints still have hopes of qualifying.

TNS head coach Craig Harrison said: “I think we said seven points at the start, and I still believe seven points will definitely get you in, but depending on the results six possibly could get you in, so, yes, we’re certainly not out of it.

“Look, it’s going to be a huge task. Panathinaikos at home and then Celje away, who have had some really good results, beating a Turkish team 5-1, so they’re obviously a good team as well, and they just got beat by Real Betis.

“I think probably looking at the bigger picture now, there’s been a great variation of teams we’ve played.

“But I do actually believe it’s been right up there with the toughest possible draw, logistically, and the teams.

"They’ve been one of the highest seeds, if not the highest seeds, in each pot that we’ve drawn from, so it’s been tough.

"To beat Astana and get three points, where I believe that nobody really thought we could get any points whatsoever and thought we were going to be whipping boys throughout the competition, it just proves how well everyone at the football club, the players and the staff have done, to still be in with a chance of qualifying with two games to go.”

Chris Seargeant, Harrison’s assistant at Park Hall, travelled to Greece to watch Panathinaikos in action to help Saints prepare for tonight’s match.

They are currently fourth in Greece’s Super League after 14 matches, four points behind leaders Olympiakos.

The Panathinaikos squad features many internationals, including defender Tin Jedvaj, part of the Croatia squad which reached the World Cup final in 2018, and Uruguay winger Facundo Pellistri, signed from Manchester United in August.

Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi helped Morocco progress to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, while Anastasios Bakasetas captained Greece in October’s victory over England at Wembley.

It’s always difficult for Harrison to pick his team for games like tonight’s as he’s well aware all of the TNS players will want to be involved.

“It’s the biggest and toughest and the most stressful part of the job,” he added. “I’ve been there myself. I’ve played in big games, I’ve been left out of big games. It’s something that I’ve got a lot of empathy with, probably because I’ve experienced it myself and I know how it feels.”