FCSB vs PAOK Predictions & Tips – PAOK to Bounce Back in the Europa League

Vedran Ostojic

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Last updated: 18 Feb 2025

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Vedran Ostojic 18 Feb 2025

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PAOK were ahead last week until Taison got sent off
FCSB are winless in their last two home games in UEL
We see value in backing the Greek side to win in Romania

Expired

PAOK have won 4 of their last 7 matches (Getty Images)

FCSB vs PAOK Preview

PAOK dominated last week’s tie until Taison was sent off. They bounced back with a 7-0 win over Lamia on Sunday, with Andrija Zivkovic and Kiril Despodov returning to action. An away win is a value bet in Romania.

FCSB vs PAOK Preview
Stats
HTH
FCSB Form
PAOK Form
Team News
Predicted Starting Lineups

Stats

FCSB are winless in their last 2 home matches (Europa League).
PAOK have won 4 of their last 7 matches.

HTH

FCSB have a 3-1 advantage against PAOK with 1 draw in 5 matches.

The Romanian side won the first leg 2-1 last week in Greece.

FCSB Form

FCSB had a slow start this month, their first two games in the Romanian top flight against CFR Cluj (1-1) and Petrolul (0-0) ending without a winner. That streak has ended with a 3-0 home win against Sepsi.

Last week, the Romanian champions were outplayed by PAOK in the first half and trailed by a goal at halftime. Andrei Gheorghita equalized in the 50th minute before Joyskim Dawa completed the comeback ten minutes later.

Elias Charalampous’ side extended their winning run last weekend at Buzau, beating the underdogs 2-0 with Florin Tanase and Grigore Turda (own goal) appearing on the scoresheet.

PAOK Form

PAOK were beaten in the Europa League group stage final round in San Sebastian by Real Sociedad 2-0, ending the match with 1.17-1.70 expected goals, 46% possession and 12-16 shots, barely making it to the playoffs.

Just three days later, the Double-Headed Eagles lost another match, this time in Greece to AEK Athens 2-1, but returned to winning ways with a 5-0 road win against OFI Crete, Mbwana Samatta scoring a brace.

PAOK looked good in last week’s tie against FCSB, gained an early lead through Samatta but things changed when Taison got sent off just before the break. Eventually, they conceded two unanswered goals and lost 2-1.

Razvan Lucescu’s side returned to winning ways last weekend by humiliating Lamia 7-0 at home, Ioannis Konstantelias being man of the match scoring a hat-trick.

Team News

Hosts will be without Ionu Cercel, Octavian Popescu and Mihai Lixandru who are injured, while Siyabonga Ngezana is suspended.

As for the visitors, first-choice goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski is recovering from a virus infection, while defender Giannis Michailidis is out with a head injury.

Predicted Starting Lineups

FCSB: Tarnovanu, Radunovic, Dawa, Popsecu, Cretu, Cisotti, Sut, Miculescu, Gheorghita, Birligea, Tanase

PAOK: Tsiftsis, Sastre, Kedziora, Michailidis, Otto, Shoretire, Schwab, Meite, Camara, Zivkovic, Samatta

Verdict

FCSB v PAOK Salonika

PAOK were the better side against FCSB last week until Taison was sent off in the 45th minute. Key players Despodov and Zivkovic have recovered from injury and will be available on Thursday, so I like PAOK’s chances of bouncing back in Romania.

PAOK Win

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