Chelsea have storied history in Athens, beating Real Madrid in the Cup Winners’ Cup final there in 1971, after a replay. We also met Panathinaikos' great rivals Olympiacos during our 2007/08 Champions League campaign.

Panathinaikos are a fresh face who we will play on Thursday 24 October, away from home. You can see the rest of Chelsea's Conference League fixtures here.

Factfile

Full name: Panathinaikos Football Club

Country: Greece

City: Athens

Formation: 1908, as Football Club of Athens

Major honours: Greece Super League winners (20 times, most recently 2009/10), Greece Cup winners (20 times, most recently last season)

Head coach: Diego Alonso

2023/24 league finish: 4th

Stadium: Athens Olympic Stadium

Colours: Green and white

Nickname: The Clover, The Greens

Rivals: Olympiacos

European record

European Cup/Champions League: Panathinaikos reached the final of the European Cup in 1971. While we were beating Real Madrid in their home city of Athens, they lost 2-0 to Ajax in our home city of London, Wembley the venue. They have lost twice more at the semi-final stage, including again to Ajax in 1996.

UEFA Cup/Europa League: They have reached the quarters twice, losing to Jose Mourinho’s Porto after extra-time in 2002/03, having won the first leg 1-0 in Portugal.

Conference League: This is their first appearance in the group stage proper, having lost to Slavia Prague in the third qualifying round in 2022/23.

2024/25 so far…

Panathinaikos have won three, drawn three and lost two of their opening eight league fixtures, most recently beating OFI Crete 1-0 on Sunday.

Like Chelsea, they progressed through the Conference League play-off round with a 3-2 aggregate win, having been knocked out of the Europa League on penalties by their old nemesis Ajax. They overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Lens by winning the return game 2-0 in Athens. Their first league phase fixture ended in a 1-1 draw away to Borac of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Current squad

Their squad contains players from no fewer than 16 different countries. Brazilian Tete, who scored the decisive goal against Lens [pictured celebrating top], had a loan spell with Leicester during the first half of 2023.

Dutch defender Bart Schenkeveld is their experienced captain, while Facundo Pellestri joined from Manchester United this summer.

The footballing community was struck by the devastating news earlier this month that Panathinaikos and former Sheffield United defender George Baldock had passed away at the age of just 31 after he was found dead in the swimming pool of his house in Glyfada, southern Athens.

A tribute to George will take place before kick-off. Chelsea supporters can participate in this by collecting green sheets of paper when entering the stadium and lifting when appropriate.

Notable former players

Five Panathinaikos players were part of Greece’s victorious squad at Euro 2004, notably defensive midfielder Angelos Basinas and right-back Giourkas Seitaridis. The latter was part of a formidable defence and was named in the team of the tournament.

Michael Essien spent the 2015/16 campaign at Panathinaikos, scoring once in 16 appearances, following his season at AC Milan having departed Chelsea in 2014. Other names familiar to Premier League fans include Gilberto Silva, Chris Samba, Djibril Cisse, and Giorgos Karagounis.