PAOK welcome Shamrock Rovers to the Toumba Stadium in Greece for the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday night.
The winners of this two-legged tie will qualify for the newly-expanded 36-team Europa League, while the losers will drop down into the Europa Conference League.
Match preview
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PAOK had ambitions of qualifying for the main stage of the Champions League earlier this month, but those hopes were quashed after they suffered a 6-5 aggregate defeat to Malmo in the third qualifying round last week.
Following a 2-2 first-leg draw in Sweden, PAOK were on the cusp of winning the second leg and edging through on aggregate, until Nils Zatterstrom netted a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser for Malmo to level the thrilling contest at 3-3. Anders Christiansen then scored nine minutes into extra time to send the Greek hosts packing.
Razvan Lucescu's side have been given a European lifeline, though, as they have dropped down into the Europa League playoffs, while they managed to quickly shake off their Champions League disappointment by beating Panserraikos 3-2 in their opening match of the new Greek Super League season last weekend.
PAOK were made the work for maximum points, but Stefan Schwab scored two penalties either side of a strike from Magomed Ozdoyev to help the reigning Greek champions begin the defence of their crown in positive fashion.
The Aspromavri, who reached the Conference League quarter-finals last season, now have their eyes set on reaching the Europa League proper for the first time since competing in the 2020-21 group stage.
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Shamrock Rovers remain on course to qualify for the Europa League proper for just the second time in their history, after they beat Celje 3-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round last week.
Despite losing the first leg 1-0 in Slovenia, the Hoops battled their way back into the contest and required extra time to win 3-1 in last Thursday's reverse fixture on home soil, with Graham Burke coming off the substitutes' bench to net the decisive goal six minutes into the additional 30.
Shamrock are now guaranteed European football this term as defeat to PAOK would still see them drop down into the Conference League; they have become the first Irish club to reach the main stage of any European competition on three occasions.
Head coach Stephen Bradley was thrilled to get one over Celje's "arrogant" manager Albert Riera - formerly of Liverpool in his playing days - and believes that Shamrock's "special" success will only benefit the League of Ireland Premier Division.
Shamrock currently sit fifth in the Irish top-flight standings and 10 points behind the summit with a game in hand on leaders Shelbourne, but they were not in domestic action last weekend and have instead had a full week to rest and prepare for Thursday's encounter with PAOK.
Team News
![PAOK s Taison celebrates after scoring the first goal for his team during a Greek Superleague playoffs game between PAOK FC and Olympiacos FC. PAOK won the game 2-0 May 12, 2024 [on July 22, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/taison.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "PAOK s Taison celebrates after scoring the first goal for his team during a Greek Superleague playoffs game between PAOK FC and Olympiacos FC. PAOK won the game 2-0 May 12, 2024 [on July 22, 2024]")
© Imago
PAOK currently have a clean bill of health with Jonny Otto, Baba Rahman and Taison all returning to training this week after spells on the sidelines through injury.
However, the hosts will be without highly-rated centre-back Konstantinos Koulierakis - who is surprisingly the club's top scorer so far this term with three goals in five games - as he has agreed to join Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.
Ivan Nasberg could therefore start alongside Tomasz Kedziora in the heart of defence, while the likes of Schwab, Andrija Zivkovic and Giannis Konstantelias are also expected to be named in the first XI.
As for Shamrock, Johnny Kenny and Rory Gaffney are both making progress in their recovery from injury, but they will not be involved on Thursday - the latter is set to return to the first-team fold next week.
Bradley has confirmed that striker Aaron Greene and defender Roberto Lopes are both nursing knocks, so they will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Burke became Shamrock's record goalscorer in Europe (eight) when he netted the decisive strike against Celje last week, and the 30-year-old is in contention to start on Thursday, while Danny Mandroiu - who has re-joined the club on a short-term deal - could also feature in some capacity.
PAOK possible starting lineup:
Kotarski; Sastre, Kedziora, Nasberg, Baba; Ozdoev, Schwab; Zivkovic, Konstantelias, Taison; Brandon
Shamrock Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pohls; Cleary, Lopes, Hoare; Honohan, Watts, O'Neill, Clarke; Nugent, Farrugia; Greene
We say: PAOK 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock will travel to Greece in buoyant mood and Bradley will have faith in his side claiming at least a share of the spoils on Thursday. However, they may find it difficult to keep PAOK quiet in front of goal - they have already scored 12 goals in five competitive games this term - and with that in mind, we can see the hosts coming out on top.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
