Preview: Omonia vs. PAOK - prediction, team news, lineups

Omonia will host PAOK on matchday five of the Europa League on Thursday evening, with the Cypriot side still winless in their debut season of the competition.

PAOK, meanwhile, currently sit third in Group E, just four points ahead of their upcoming opponents.

Match preview

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Omonia have picked up just one point in the group stage so far, when they travelled to Greece in the reverse fixture, registering a 1-1 draw against PAOK in October.

Since then, they have suffered defeats against Granada and PSV Eindhoven, with Henning Berg 's men desperately needing a win this Thursday if they are to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages of the competition.

Their previous Europa League result saw a 2-1 loss against current group leaders Granada last month, featuring an equaliser by Ernest Asante in the 60th minute, before Alberto Soro secured the winner for the Spanish club in the late stages of the game.

In the Cypriot First Division, Omonia are currently seventh, having registered just four wins in their opening 11 games this campaign.

However, in the Europa League, a win against PAOK could see them close the gap to just one point between them and their opponents.

On the other hand, the Greek club currently have five points in Group E, having managed to secure a win on matchday three of the competition - a comfortable 4-1 triumph against PSV.

Despite the dominant performance, their last Europa League fixture ended in a 3-2 defeat against the same team, with PSV able to get revenge on Pablo Garcia 's men.

However, their chances of reaching the last 32 of the competition are still very much intact, with the side currently just one point behind the Dutch outfit.

In terms of their domestic form, PAOK have started off their 2020-21 season well, picking up six wins out of a possible nine games as they sit just one point behind champions Olympiacos.

Omonia and PAOK have gone head to head on three occasions in the past, with PAOK claiming one victory, while their other two European meetings ended as draws.

Omonia Europa League form: LLLD

Omonia form (all competitions): DLLDLL

PAOK Europa League form: LWDD

PAOK form (all competitions): WLWWWW

Team News

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Berg is expected to have a fully fit squad for Thursday's Europa League match, with the Norwegian coach likely to revert to the same starting XI that managed a draw away at PAOK last time round.

Michal Duris is also back from his one-match ban and is therefore expected to start up front for the hosts.

Following their disappointing loss to PSV in the previous matchday, Garcia could make a few changes to the team that started in their last Europa League match.

The Uruguayan could bring in Diego Biseswar and Douglas Augusto, after both players started on the bench in the 3-2 defeat.

Omonia possible starting lineup:

Fabiano; Hubocan, Luftner, Lang, Lecjaks; Gomes, Gomez; Bautheac, Papoulis, Tzionis; Duris

PAOK possible starting lineup:

Zivkovic; Alves, Ingason, Varela, Crespo; Schwab, Kaddouri, Douglas; Zivkovic, Colak, Biseswar

We say: Omonia 1-2 PAOK

Although Omonia were able to pick up a promising 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at the Toumba Stadium, PAOK have been in much better form than their opponents in recent weeks. However, it should be a tight affair between the two clubs.

Top betting tip

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