Eintracht Frankfurt and PAOK meet in the Europa Conference League on Thursday evening looking to take the next step towards securing top spot in Group G.
Although both teams have already qualified for the knockout stages, whoever finishes in first place will avoid a playoff tie in February.
Match preview
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Frankfurt went into the November international break having not wanted it to arrive, a consequence of putting together a seven-game undefeated streak in all competitions.
A comeback 2-2 draw at Werder Bremen had kept them in the mix in the top six of the Bundesliga standings, but Frankfurt returned to lose 2-1 at home to rivals Stuttgart.
Head coach Dino Toppmoller will not necessarily feel that his team are back to square one, yet momentum has most certainly been lost as they bid to go deep in three competitions.
Fortunately for Frankfurt, they have already qualified from this group, but SGE will want to avoid two extra fixtures on the schedule by winning their remaining two games.
Conceding a 92nd-minute goal in the reverse fixture against PAOK makes them marginal underdogs, yet they know that their rivals for first have lost some momentum of their own.
Facing Aberdeen at home would have been regarded as a comfortable win by most, yet PAOK had to settle for a 2-2 draw having also needed to come from behind after their Scottish opponents had gone ahead.
Although they have already achieved their objective of qualification, PAOK want to be viewed as dark horses for this trophy, a cause that will be helped if they can win on Thursday to confirm top spot with a game to spare.
Since slipping up against Aberdeen, PAOK have recorded back-to-back home triumphs over Panaitolikos and Panserraikos respectively, scoring seven goals in the process.
Emerging victorious from those two encounters have kept Razvan Lucescu's side within two points of Greek top-flight leaders Panathinaikos.
Team News
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Frankfurt will likely be forced into at least one change from the weekend with Niels Nkounkou replacing the injured Philipp Max at left-back.
Unless Ansgar Knauff or Mario Gotze are drafted into the team in creative roles, there is potential for the remainder of the side staying the same.
Although Omar Marmoush has failed to score in his last three games, already netting 10 times this campaign should see him keep his place in the attack.
Barring any fitness issues, Lucescu may be happy to select the same PAOK XI from the weekend having been able to rest players from the 68th minute onwards.
Top goalscorer Andrija Zivkovic did not feature in that fixture, despite representing Serbia twice over the international break, and he would likely be recalled if he is passed fit.
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Buta, Tuta, Pacho, Nkounkou; Larsson, Skhiri; Ebimbe, Chaibi, Knauff; Marmoush
PAOK possible starting lineup:
Kotarski; Sastre, Troost-Ekong, Michalidis, Soares; Schwab, Ozdoev; Despodov, Murg, Taison; Thomas
We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 PAOK
PAOK know that they have missed an opportunity to remain in total control of this group and that could affect them in this fixture. Nevertheless, it was already their toughest match on paper, leading us to predict a home win in what could prove to be an entertaining tussle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
