The second leg of the Europa League 2025/26 qualifying playoff between PAOK (Greece) and Rijeka (Croatia) will take place on August 28 at the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki. The score of the first match was 1-0 in favor of Rijeka. PAOK vs. Rijeka: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
PAOK
In the first match, the team lost 0-1 away. As a result, PAOK extended their winless streak in the Europa League to six matches (2 draws, 4 losses). Moreover, in the last four encounters in this European competition, the club has failed to score. To advance to the main stage of the Europa League, the Greeks must win by at least two goals over 90 minutes. Notably, last season PAOK participated in the main draw of this tournament and even reached the playoffs.
- The team has not lost in regular time in 9 of their last 11 home matches in the Europa League (5 wins, 4 draws).
- The club has not conceded more than one goal in 90 minutes in 8 of their last 10 home games in this European competition.
- The Greeks have not allowed opponents to score in the second half in 9 of their last 10 home matches in the Europa League.
Predicted lineup for PAOK (4-5-1)
Jiri Pavlenka – Abdul Rahman Baba, Tomasz Kedziora, Ioannis Michailidis, Jonjoe Kenny – Andrija Zivkovic, Magomed Ozdoev, Ioannis Konstantelias, Soualiho Meite, Luka Ivanusec – Fedor Chalov.
Rijeka
By winning the first match, the team secured back-to-back victories in the Europa League for the first time since 2019. Additionally, this was Rijeka's first clean sheet in five recent matches in this European competition. To advance to the main stage of the tournament, the club only needs to avoid defeat in 90 minutes, and if the Croatians lose by one goal, extra time will be played. It's worth noting that Rijeka has not participated in the main draw of the Europa League since the 2020/21 season.
- The team has not won in regular time in 6 of their last 8 away matches in the Europa League (2 draws, 4 losses).
- The club has not conceded in the first half in 8 of their last 10 away games in this European competition.
- The Croatians have not scored more than once in regular time in 6 of their last 8 away matches in the Europa League.
Predicted lineup for Rijeka (4-5-1)
Martin Zlomislic – Justas Lasickas, Ante Majstorovic, Stjepan Radelic, Mladen Devetak – Merveille Ndockyt, Tiago Dantas, Dejan Petrovic, Toni Fruk, Niko Jankovic – Luka Menalo.
Referee
Jose Maria Sanchez (Spain)
Matches – 13 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 44;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.4;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 20;
Penalties – 15%.
Match Prediction: PAOK vs. Rijeka
I believe the second leg will be more productive than the first. PAOK plays aggressively at home and rarely goes without scoring: in the last 12 home matches in the Europa League, the team failed to score only three times, and in half of those games, the Greeks scored at least twice. However, in 10 of their last 15 home matches in this European competition, the club has conceded.
Rijeka, although not always successful in securing positive results away, strives to be active in attack. In their last 13 away games in the Europa League, the team left the field without scoring only three times, and in six matches during this period, they scored at least twice. Meanwhile, the Croatians allow too many costly mistakes at their own goal: in the same period, the club has only three clean sheets.
I anticipate several goals in this match, so my prediction: Total over 2 goals
