The New Saints hope to avoid Greek tragedy in UEFA Conference League

The penultimate matchday in the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League awaits for The New Saints on Thursday night, as they host Greek giants Panathinaikos at New Meadow. 

Craig Harrison’s side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Djurgarden a fortnight ago, leaving them on three points from four matches and 29th in the League Phase table – a place in the top 24 is needed to reach the knockout stage play-offs. 

With their qualification hopes fading, the Saints will likely need at least a point on Thursday night ahead of their trip to Slovenian side NK Celje on Matchday 6 next week. Over 4,700 tickets have been sold for the game at New Meadow – which would be a record attendance for a JD Cymru Premier side’s home game since TNS hosted Liverpool at the Racecourse in 2005. 

Panathinaikos currently sit 24th in the League Phase table on four points, having earned their first win of the League Phase two weeks ago in a 1-0 triumph over HJK Helsinki – following a 1-1 draw against FK Borac Banja Luka and defeats to Chelsea (4-1) and Djurgarden (2-1). They are aiming to progress to the knockout stages of European competition for the first time since they reached the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 in 2009/10. 

The Athens-based side are one of Greece’s largest clubs, having lifted the league title on 20 occasions – only Olympiacos have won more. Panathinaikos reached the European Cup final in 1971 when they lost to Ajax and have competed in the semi-finals of Europe’s most elite club competition a further two times. 

Panathinaikos are currently just over halfway through the domestic season in the Greek Super League and sit fourth in the table, four points behind leaders Olympiacos. Rui Vitória took over as manager at the end of October and has won five of his first seven matches in charge. 

The squad contains a host of full internationals, including three players who were called up to represent Greece in November’s UEFA Nations League matches. The reported €11.5 million signing of Facundo Pellistri from Manchester United in the summer was a club-record deal, while Croatian defender Tin Jedvaj started on the bench in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final.  

TNS have lost three of their last five matches in all competitions, but their JD Cymru Premier game against Newtown last weekend was postponed due to Storm Darragh. It means that they have had eight days’ preparation for Thursday night’s clash – their longest break between fixtures since the start of August. 

Danny Davies has played every minute in the League Phase so far but was absent for the defeat to Bala Town last week, so Craig Harrison will hope to have the defender back at New Meadow. Dan Williams has missed the last two matches with illness but could return to start for the eighth consecutive game in Europe. 

Speaking ahead of the game, Craig Harrison said: “The players have shown such togetherness throughout this campaign and I think the staff also deserve a lot of praise, even when the players have a day off we have staff members hard at work preparing for training and matches.

“It will be an extremely tough game and we are under no illusions as to the size of the challenge we face against one of European football’s top sides. This is the level we have worked so hard to get to and these are the games we want to be involved in as a club.”

Watch The New Saints v Panathinaikos live on TNT Sports 4 from 7:45pm on Thursday evening, with kick-off at 8pm. 

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