FCSB vs PAOK prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-02-19 17:45.
[p]FCSB came from behind to earn a 2-1 victory in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League (UEL) knockout play-off against PAOK, who were reduced to ten men before half-time. The superiority in numbers certainly aided the Romaniansā fightback, and they now have added confidence through home advantage as they look to reach the last 16 of this competition for the first time since 2012/13, where Lyon or Eintracht Frankfurt await.[/p]
[p]Boss Elias Charalambous will feel thatās the least his side deserve after they only missed out on automatic qualification beyond this stage on goal difference in the league phase. FCSB have responded well to that disappointment, going unbeaten in five matches and winning each of their last three, with the only side to beat them since their winter break ended being Manchester United on matchday eight (W4, D3).[/p]
[p]In stark contrast to FCSB, PAOK only made it into the knockout play-offs on goal difference at the other end of the table, so a lack of discipline which potentially cost them a first-leg lead will have been particularly frustrating. A huge task now lies ahead of them, not least because they have lost five of their six away matches in major UEFA competitions (W1).[/p]
[p]Ominously, PAOK have also won just one of their previous five meetings against Romanian opposition (L4), with the sole victory coming way back in 1970/71. Back-to-back defeats in this competition means confidence among the travelling contingent is unlikely to be high, but PAOK at least re-energised their fanbase with an emphatic 7-0 domestic win at the weekend![/p]
[p]Players to watch: All four of Florin TÄnaseās goals this season for FCSB have been match openers, while he also provided the assist for his sideās equaliser in last weekās first leg. Restored to the first team this month, Ally Samatta is having an incredible impact for PAOK, directly contributing to five goals in his last three matches (G4, A1).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: FCSB last won both legs of a UEFA knockout tie in 2005/06.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]