Panathinaikos opened their Superbet Greek Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Niki Volou on September 3, 2026, at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.
The Greek giants were held to a 0-0 draw at half-time before securing the decisive single goal in the second half to earn all three points in the opening round of the tournament's League Phase.
Coach reaction and tactical focus
Following the final whistle, Panathinaikos head coach Niestrup acknowledged that the opening fixture had presented a stern challenge for his team. He stated that the match against Niki Volou was a difficult game, but emphasized that the club's upcoming fixture against domestic rivals PAOK would be a completely different contest.
The Superbet Greek Cup serves as the primary domestic knockout tournament in Greek football. Panathinaikos, based in the capital city of Athens, are one of the most successful clubs in Greek sports history, while Niki Volou, based in the central city of Volos, compete in the lower divisions of the Greek league system.
Return of Azzedine Ounahi
The matchday coincided with major squad developments centered on Moroccan international midfielder Azzedine Ounahi. Panathinaikos marked his return to the team's Koropi training facility by releasing an official video featuring the message that while some chase time, Ounahi stops it.
Ounahi also addressed supporters directly in a separate video message wearing the Panathinaikos shirt, declaring that he had returned and looked forward to seeing fans on the pitch.
The midfielder attended the match at the Olympic Stadium, where he was greeted with enthusiastic applause by the home crowd. During the event, Ounahi personally handed over a team shirt to the first Panathinaikos supporter who had ordered one. Spanish league organizers La Liga also published a tribute video highlighting goals Ounahi scored during his time with Girona.
Ounahi rose to global prominence during Morocco's historic run to the semi-finals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Panathinaikos conduct their daily training sessions at the Georgios Kalafatis Sports Center in Koropi, located east of Athens.
European squad choices and player retirement
Panathinaikos confirmed several key roster decisions alongside their domestic cup opening. The club finalized their registered squad list for European competition, adding Ounahi alongside fellow midfielders Imran Louza and Kings Kangwa.
However, defensive midfielder Pedro Chirivella and goalkeeper Adrian Chaves were omitted from the European squad roster for the upcoming continental campaign.
The club also marked a significant departure from their squad ranks as Spanish midfielder Ruben Perez officially announced his retirement from professional football. Perez spent several seasons in Athens, serving as a core central midfielder for Panathinaikos in domestic and European competition.
Panathinaikos will next turn their focus to their upcoming League Phase fixture against PAOK, as they look to build momentum in both domestic cup action and their European campaign.
