AEK did not make it in Belgium and, despite being superior to Antwerp, were beaten 1-0, meaning Greece still needs to get a point from the Belgian outfit for the UEFA rating. Rakov from Poland also suffered a defeat, meaning the difference between the two countries being maintained.
Greece remains 19th and Poland 21st. There is also Croatia, whose representative did not compete on Tuesday.
Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and PAOK winning in the following games will mean Greece could create a greater distance from its pursuers.
SC Braga host Panathinaikos in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff tie. Both teams progressed to this stage in contrasting fashion, and while the Greeks can make things difficult, Braga's superior attacking prowess should give them the upper hand here.
Braga flexed their attacking muscles in the previous round as they claimed a 7-1 aggregate victory over Backa Topola. They ran out 3-0 winners in the first meeting at home before picking up a 4-1 win in the second leg, with Bruma and Alvaro Djalo scoring twice each across both fixtures.
That result is an extension of Braga’s fine form in the early stage of the season, as they have claimed eight wins in their last ten matches, a run stretching back to the preseason. The goals have also flowed freely for Artur Jorge’s men, who have scored eight times in their previous two matches.
Braga will head into Wednesday’s clash with extra confidence after picking up their first Primeira Liga win of the season. They again claimed a 4-2 victory at Chavez last weekend, with Bruma among the goals.
Panathinaikos’ progress to the playoffs was not as smooth as they needed penalties to see off French giants Marseille. Having battled to a 3-3 draw after extra time, the Greeks held their nerves better to earn a 5-3 victory in the shootout.
The Greek side has come through two rounds of qualifiers and will feel confident after overcoming the likes of Dnipro and Marseille. However, a closer look shows they have picked up just two wins in four qualifying matches and were beaten 2-1 at Marseille in their previous fixture.
One of the significant problems plaguing Panathinaikos in recent weeks is a need for more discipline at the back. Ivan Jovanivic’s men have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven matches across all competitions.
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