PAOKvs.FCSB

The teams are set to face each other for the second time in this season's Europa League after FCSB picked up a 1-0 win when the two sides faced off in the league phase.

Match preview

PAOK finished in 22nd place in the league phase despite drawing one and losing three of their opening four games in the main draw.

However, they got their European campaign some much-needed impetus with a 2-0 away win over Rigas FS, before they recorded home victories against Ferencvaros and Slavia Prague without conceding.

Unfortunately for PAOK, their winning run was brought to an end by a 2-0 defeat against Real Sociedad on matchday eight, but they still managed to finish in the top 24 due to their favourable goal difference.

Razvan Lucescu's side are now looking forward to appearing in the knockout rounds for the second season in a row after reaching the quarter-finals of last season's Conference League.

However, PAOK's hopes of reaching the last 16 will be dampened by the fact they have failed to win all of their previous eight Europa League knockout matches (D3, L5).

The hosts will at least fancy their chances of troubling the FCSB backline, having scored at least two goals in each of their last three Europan home matches.

FCSB are set to compete in the knockout rounds of a UEFA competition for the first time since 2017-18 after finishing the league phase in 11th position.

The Romanian side collected 14 points across the seven matchdays to leave them in eighth position ahead of the final round of games in the league phase.

However, FCSB ultimately missed out on an automatic last-16 spot after they fell to a 2-0 defeat in their home clash against Manchester United on matchday eight.

As a result of that defeat, they will now have to negotiate a playoff round tie against PAOK if they are to reach the Europa League last-16 for the first time since 2012-13.

Their hopes of claiming a positive result from Thursday's fixture will be tempered by the fact they have lost each of their last six away major European matches since they beat Real Betis in the UEFA Cup in March 2006.

However, they will certainly take confidence from the fact they have already recorded an away victory over PAOK this season, claiming a 1-0 victory in October's league phase clash thanks to a Daniel Birligea effort.

PAOK Europa League form:

D

L

W

W

W

L

PAOK form (all competitions):

D

W

W

L

L

W

FCSB Europa League form:

L

W

D

D

W

L

FCSB form (all competitions):

W

W

L

D

D

W

Team News

The hosts are expected to be without the services of Andrija Zivkovic and Kiril Despodov due to their respective injury issues.

Jiri Pavlenka, Mateusz Wieteska, Dejan Lovren, Jonathan Gomez, Vieirinha, Timoue Bakayoko, Sergio Pena and Fedor Chalov have all been left out of the Europa League squad, making them ineligible for Thursday's home clash with FCSB.

However, the midfield duo of Soualiho Meite and Dimitris Pelkas have been added to the squad following their arrivals in the winter transfer window.

As for the visitors, Elias Charalambous will be unable to call upon the injured trio of Mihai Lixandru, Octavian Popescu and Darius Olaru.

Lukas Zima, Juri Cisotti and Andrei Gheorghita have all been added to FCSB's Europa League after joining the club in the winter window.

However, fellow new addition, Jordan Gele, is ineligible for the knockout rounds, having been omitted from the Europa League list.

PAOK possible starting lineup:

Kotarski; Sastre, Kedziora, Michailidis, Otto; Schwab, Meite; Shoretire, Camara, Taison; Samatta

FCSB possible starting lineup:

Tarnovanu; Radunovic, Dawa, M. Popsecu, Cretu; Cisotti, Sut; Miculescu, Tanase, Gheorghita; Birligea

We say: PAOK 1-1 FCSB

PAOK avoided defeat in three of their four home matches in the league phase, although that solitary loss took place against Thursday's opponents.

Written by

Ben Sully

Previews by email