Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
Clean-sheet victories in their last two Europa League rounds have propelled PAOK into the playoff zone, while Slavia Prague can scarcely hope for a top-24 finish. The Czech side have been unfortunate with injuries, with too many players missing the upcoming match, forcing the coaching staff to rely on backup options.
PAOK
PAOK hold a significant advantage in terms of match fitness, as the Greek campaign did not pause over the New Year period. Since the sixth round of the Europa League, they have played seven matches. Against RFS (2:0) and Ferencváros (5:0), PAOK dominated possession and created 4.68 xG over 180 minutes. Since the October international break, they have scored at least one goal in each of their nine home games, amassing a total of 24 goals in this period.
Slavia Prague
In mid-December, Slavia Prague suffered two painful defeats against Anderlecht (1:2) in the Europa League and Teplice (0:1) in the national championship. The Prague team are in the midst of a four-match losing streak in European competition (goal difference of 2:6), and ten players, including key figures like Ivan Schranz, Jindřich Staněk, and Lukáš Provod, will miss the trip to Thessaloniki.
PAOK vs Slavia Prague Prediction
It seems PAOK have the motivation and strength to exploit Slavia's crisis. The Czechs face a tough challenge against the superior attacking options of their opponents, who also have a well-stocked bench.
