Europa League | League Stage

Jan 23, 2025 at 8pm UK

Stadio Toumbas

PAOK vs Slavia Prague

Match preview

A 2-0 win away to Rigas Futbola Skola on matchday five kept PAOK in the relegation zone, but a dominant 5-0 thrashing of Ferencvaros at Toumbas propelled them into the play-off places.

With seven points, Aspromavri are 22nd in the standings, ahead of 25th-placed Braga on goal difference and four points adrift of the automatic qualifying spots.

Determined to strengthen their bid for a knockout berth, PAOK know that winning their remaining games could secure a top-eight finish, and with three wins in their last four home games against Czech opponents, they head into Wednesday's clash full of confidence.

Should they do so, the Greek giants will have won the Europa League three times in a row for the first time since the 2011-12 season, when they beat Shamrock Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur twice.

Razvan Lucescu's men were held to a goalless draw by Aris Thessaloniki on Sunday, a result that left them fourth in the Greek Super League standings.

While PAOK are finding their rhythm in Europe, Slavia Prague have endured a nightmare run, losing their last four games.

The Czech side made a strong start to their campaign, opening with a 2-0 win over Ludogorets before holding Ajax to a 1-1 draw, leaving them in a promising position with four points from two games.

However, that tally has remained unchanged since then, as they lost narrowly to Athletic Bilbao, Eintracht Frankfurt and Fenerbahce before suffering a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Anderlecht.

The result sealed their worst ever run in a major European competition and left them 29th in the standings, three points off the play-off places.

Slavia come into Wednesday's clash on the back of a 1-0 friendly win over Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union, although their last competitive outing ended in a 1-0 league defeat to Teplice in mid-December.

Recent Performance

PAOK Europa League form:LLDLWW

PAOK form (all competitions):WWWLLD

Slavia Prague Europa League form:WDLLLL

Slavia Prague form (all competitions):LWWWLL

Team News

Midfielder Mohamed Mady Camara is suspended for Wednesday's game after picking up a yellow card against Ferencvaros.

The hosts have a number of fitness concerns, including Tiemoue Bakayoko (bruise), Andrija Zivkovic (knee), Jonathan Gomez (illness), Omar Colley (ribs), Thomas Murg (illness) and Dejan Loveren (ankle).

Injuries aside, Gomez, Murg and Loveren will join Vieirinha and Mbwana Samatta as ineligible for the group stage, having failed to register.

Ondrej Kolar, Alexandr Buzek, Petr Sevcik and Lukas Masopust are also unavailable for Slavia for the same reason.

Meanwhile, long-term absentees Jindrich Stanek (shoulder), Lukas Vorlicky (muscle) and Tomas Vlcek (knee) remain sidelined for Wednesday's clash.

Possible starting lineup

PAOK possible starting lineup:

Kotarski; Jonny, Kedziora, Michailidis, Baba; Ozdoev, Schwab; Despodov, Konstantelias, Taison; Tissoudali

Slavia Prague possible starting lineup:

Kinsky; Boril, Ogbu, Holes; Diouf, Michez, Zafeiris, Doudera; Pech, Chytil, Chory