PAOK vs Slavia Prague prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-01-22 20:00.
[p]Two teams in the bottom half of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League (UEL), PAOK and Slavia Prague, will meet at the Toumba Stadium on Thursday evening as both play their penultimate league phase fixture. The Greek side begin this gameweek in 22nd place, and were only in the play-offs by virtue of goal difference, but have upward momentum after winning their last two matches in the competition âto nilâ.[/p]
[p]That includes a statement 5-0 home victory over FerencvĂĄros in round six, an impressive result given the Hungarians had won their last three in the UEL. But RÄzvan Lucescuâs side come into this clash after a sluggish start to 2025 which has seen them fail to win any of their opening four games (D2, L2) across all competitions this year.[/p]
[p]With the Czech First League on its winter break until next month, Slavia Prague, who currently sit top of their domestic table, have not played a competitive game since a surprise 1-0 away defeat against Teplice in mid-December. Since then, they have sold goalkeeper AntonĂn KinskĂœ and winger MatÄj JurĂĄsek, which doesnât bode well as they look to end a run of four successive defeats by a one-goal margin in the UEL.[/p]
[p]JindĆich TrpiĆĄovskĂœ will bring his side to Thessaloniki with the knowledge that this seasonâs European adventure could end on Thursday evening if this and other results donât go their way. Overall, it looks like a tough assignment for the Red and Whites who start this round of fixtures in 29th, five places and three points from the final play-off spot, and with no win on any of their five previous visits to Greece (D2, L3).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Fedor Chalov will be targeting a goal for the third successive game in this competition after second-half strikes in the victories over RFS and FerencvĂĄros. Slavia Prague have scored in only one of their three UEL away fixtures this season, with MojmĂr Chytil getting a second-half goal in that 2-0 win. He boasts a remarkable 23-match unbeaten record (W21, D2) in games he has scored for his side![/p]
[p]Hot stat: Slavia Prague did not lead at half-time in any of their last five UEL matches (D1, L4).[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tom Penn[/i][/p]