PAOK vs. Celta Vigo – News and Probable Lineups

A spot in the Europa League’s Round of 16 is at stake as PAOK Thessaloniki faces Celta Vigo at Toumba Stadium on Thursday evening for the first leg of their playoff match.

Both teams enter this fixture knowing that having finished only a single point apart in the league standings, any minor error could be detrimental.

Match overview

With the first leg being played at home, Razvan Lucescu’s squad will look to seize control of the tie before the return leg.

PAOK comes into this match following a goalless draw against AEK Athens, a result that highlights their consistent form but also points to a slight decline in their attacking effectiveness.

Recently, the Thessaloniki club has shown resilience, achieving three victories and two draws in their past five matches across all competitions, demonstrating their ability to secure results even when they are not performing at their best.

However, their Europa League campaign has been inconsistent, marked by three wins, three draws, and two losses, indicating a team capable of impressive performances but unable to maintain steady form throughout the league phase.

A 17th-place finish may not accurately reflect PAOK’s talent, particularly considering their strong home displays.

Toumba Stadium has been a stronghold for them, with the Greek side earning eight points from 12 possible in front of their fans.

In fact, PAOK has found the net in eight of their last nine home games, showcasing their attacking reliability, while managing to keep clean sheets in four of their last six matches at home – a combination that should give Lucescu confidence as they head into this match.

Nonetheless, their latest European game – a 4-2 loss at the hands of Olympique Lyon – highlighted defensive weaknesses, which were made worse by a red card.

Having scored 17 goals in eight Europa League encounters, PAOK possesses a notable attacking threat, but conceding 14 goals also hints that they can be vulnerable when facing quality teams – something Celta will aim to take advantage of.

On the other hand, Celta Vigo arrives in Greece after a disappointing 2-2 draw with Espanyol over the weekend, a match that encapsulated their recent difficulties in closing out games.

The Galician side is without a win in their last five fixtures across all competitions, with three draws and two losses, a period that has understandably shaken the squad’s confidence.

Celta secured 13 points over eight matches, achieving four victories, one draw, and three defeats during the league phase.

While this is a respectable tally, their away form raises alarms, with only one victory from four away encounters.

Their previous European match – a 1-1 draw against Red Star Belgrade – demonstrated their challenges in asserting dominance in tough conditions.

Claudio Giraldez has tried to instill a possession-oriented approach emphasizing quick transitions, but recent outings suggest the players are struggling to implement it consistently.

Celta has scored 15 goals and conceded 11 in the competition, illustrating both their offensive strength and defensive vulnerabilities.

Despite their challenging spell, they still pose a threat in attack, having scored in four of their last five away games.

Celta will draw encouragement from their recent encounters, having already defeated the Greek team 3-1 earlier in this season’s league phase.

This prior result could provide the visitors with a psychological advantage as they head into what is expected to be a closely contested first leg.

Team News

PAOK will miss Georgios Giakoumakis and Giannis Konstantelias, both of whom are suspended for this match.

Luka Ivanusec is sidelined due to a muscle injury, and Soualiho Meite remains uncertain because of a thigh issue – a potential setback given his key role in midfield.

Kiril Despodov is also out with an injury, and Dimitrios Pelkas is unavailable due to a knock.

For Celta Vigo, Carlos Dominguez and Franco Cervi are both doubtful because of fitness issues, while Alvaro Nunez is ruled out with a groin injury.

21-year-old Yoel Lago also remains doubtful ahead of the match due to some physical discomfort.

Marcos Alonso, Carl Starfelt, and Javi Rodriguez are expected to solidify the defense, while the attacking trio of Williot Swedberg, Borja Iglesias, and Iago Aspas is likely to lead the line, with Iglesias aiming to score for the third consecutive match.

PAOK probable starting XI:

Pavlenka? Kenny, Kedziora, Michailidis, Rahman? Ozdoyev, Meite; Chatsidis, Taison, Zivkovic; Mythou

Celta Vigo probable starting XI:

Radu; Alonso, Starfelt, Rodriguez; Rueda, Lopez, Roman Gonzalez, Carreira; Swedberg, Iglesias, Aspas

PAOK’s strong home form cannot be overlooked, but Celta’s attacking prowess could provide them with a crucial advantage.

Having already secured a victory against the hosts in the league phase, the visitors may feel confident about replicating that performance and gaining an upper hand in the first leg.