Verdict: Total goals over 3.5
Best odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: BetUS
In the first leg of the second Champions League qualifying round, PAOK will host Borac Banja Luka at Stadio Toumbas in Thessaloniki on Wednesday.
The home side finished first in Greece’s top flight championship playoff group with 80 points, showcasing their dominance. Meanwhile, the visitors, Borac Banja Luka, won Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Premier League, amassing an impressive 78 points from 33 games.
PAOK Thessaloniki
The hosts did not participate in the first Champions League qualifying round, making Wednesday’s game their first competitive match since May 19.
PAOK last competed in the Champions League qualifying rounds in September 2020, when they were eliminated in the fourth and final stage by Krasnodar, losing 4-2 on aggregate.
PAOK qualified for this stage of the competition after claiming their first title since the 2018/19 season. Their 2.22 points per game record in the 2023/24 season was slightly lower than the 2.67 they achieved back then. However, this will be of little concern to manager Razvan Lucescu, considering they won the title.
Lucescu, who has been in charge since August 2017, has led PAOK to two league titles and two Greek Cups. His side scored 87 goals and conceded 37 times in the 2023-24 top flight, making them the division’s best offensive and defensive team.
Team News
The hosts have made several signings over the summer, including goalkeeper Antonis Tsiftsis, and centre-backs Tomasz Kedziora and Konstantinos Thymianis.
PAOK could also hand competitive debuts to midfield signing Mady Camara and left-back Filipe Soares in their upcoming match.
Borac Banja Luka
PAOK’s opponents from Banja Luka defeated Egnatia Rrogozhine in the first Champions League qualifying round on penalties. They won the first leg 1-0 on July 10 before losing the second leg 2-1 on July 17. They will have been disappointed to be taken to penalties, especially since Egnatia Rrogozhine were reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute and later to nine in the 90th, but Borac only came away from the first leg with a one-goal lead.
The visitors’ title win in 2023/24 was their first since the 2020/21 season, when they earned 67 points from 33 matches. This was only their third-ever top-flight championship win. Last term, the Red-Blues scored 68 goals and conceded 26, which were the league’s second-best offensive and best defensive records, respectively.
Manager Mladen Zizovic has been in charge since June 2024, after former boss Vinko Marinovic left by mutual consent. His side has never reached the group stage of the Champions League and were eliminated from the competition in the 2021/22 season by CFR Cluj in the first qualifying round.
Team News
The visitors come into the clash without goalkeeper Nikola Cetkovic, who has been out of action since August due to a cruciate ligament injury.
Srdjan Grahovac captained Borac Banja Luka in their last outing against Egnatia Rrogozhine and is expected to start again, while his midfield partner Stojan Vranjes, who started both games in the first qualifying round, is likely to retain his place in the XI too.
Conclusion
Given that Borac Banja Luka struggled to capitalize on a weakened Egnatia Rrogozhine, they may face difficulties once again on Wednesday.
PAOK boss Razvan Lucescu will be confident of landing a significant home victory and grabbing onto something to take into the second leg. There should be plenty of chances, and consequently goals.
Verdict: Total goals over 3.5
Best odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: BetUS
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