PAOK vs Maccabi Tel Aviv prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-09-23 16:45.
[p]Two teams that started in the third qualifying round of this yearâs UEFA Europa League (UEL) clash here as PAOK take on Maccabi Tel Aviv on matchday one of the league phase.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]PAOK extended their unbeaten league start to their Greek Super League campaign with a goalless draw at the weekend (W3, D1), form theyâll hope to carry onto the European stage. This will be their tenth season competing in the UEL, and head coach RÄzvan Lucescu has some added incentive to start with a win as his record of 16 defeats in 22 UEL matches is the highest loss percentage of any manager to take charge of 20+ games in the competition since 2009/10. [/p]
[p]Maccabi qualified for the UEL league phase after an unsuccessful jaunt in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualifying rounds. Three wins from four in UEL qualifying (L1) carried the Israelis to their second consecutive league phase appearance in this competition. The Yellows will look to have a better start this time out as they began their league phase campaign with four consecutive defeats last season. Recent form offers hope that they can change the narrative as Maccabi won their last four matches and aggregated 14 goals in the process, so attack could be their best form of defence here.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Both previous H2Hs were won by Maccabi, although one of those victories was awarded in 2004/05 UCL qualifying after PAOK fielded an ineligible player.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]PAOK lost 12 of their last 20 games in the UEL (W4, D4).[/p]
[p]Just two of PAOKâs nine competitive matches this season saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]None of Maccabiâs last 16 UEFA games have been drawn (W8, L8).[/p]
[p]Maccabi scored exactly once in ten of their last 13 away matches in UEFA competitions.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]PAOKâs Magomed Ozdoev has a goal and two assists in his last three matches and has won on eight of his last nine scoring club appearances (D1). Dor Peretz is in impressive form as he comes here with eight goals from his last six games for club and country, with his last four goals for Maccabi arriving after half-time.[/p]
[p]Midfielder Dimitrios Pelkas was injured at the weekend for PAOK, while Maccabi are likely to have a full-strength squad available for selection.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Maccabi may have struggled for results on the road, but they are likely to get on the scoresheet, so backing both teams to score could be a profitable pick.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Sridhar Bhamidi[/i][/p]