The injury and diagnosis

Azzedine Ounahi left the pitch on a stretcher during Panathinaikos's 5-1 Super League win over Asteras Tripolis at the OAKA on Sunday, 18 October. He went to the stadium's medical room on a special wheeled chair after a challenge with an opponent and a fall to the ground, and he appeared to be in severe pain. Sources give different minutes for the injury, with one placing it at the 16th minute and another at the 19th. An MRI scan on Monday, 19 October confirmed the fears, showing a severe strain of the biceps femoris in his right leg. The 26-year-old Moroccan midfielder is expected to be out for about two and a half months.

Return and the fixture list

Sources expect Ounahi back in early 2027, with one report saying his return is planned for the new year. One outlet lists 20 fixtures he will miss, starting with the Kairat Almaty match on 22 October and the Volos match on 25 October, followed by the cup tie against Aris on 28 October and the AEK match on 1 November. The list runs to a match at Aris on 6 February.

Conference League squad

Because of the length of the layoff, Panathinaikos can replace Ounahi on its Conference League list. Pedro Chirivella will take his place, a decision made by coach Jacob Neestrup, who had already used Chirivella as a substitute in the win over Asteras Tripolis. Salah-Eddine is not eligible to play in Europe at this stage of the League Phase, and the other players currently off the list are goalkeeper Chaves and the injured Ingason and Pantelidis.

Other squad news

Adriano Giagousitsch also left the match with discomfort in his left biceps femoris, but his MRI showed nothing serious. He is expected to be available for the Volos match on Sunday, 25 October at 18:00 at the Panthessaliko Stadium. Victor Kristiansen has a minor injury and will not travel to Almaty, so the Danish left-back will miss the Thursday, 22 October match at 17:30 against Kairat. The coaching staff chose not to risk his condition ahead of a demanding stretch in Greece and Europe.