Two teams still searching for their first win in the 2024-25 Europa League square off in Greece on Thursday evening as PAOK play host to Viktoria Plzen at Stadio Toumbas.
While Plzen have collected just two points from their opening two games in the league phase of the competition, PAOK are yet to pick up a single point.
Match preview
PAOK are in fact one of only six sides in the newly-expanded 36-team Europa League who have lost both of their opening two matches, with a 3-1 opening defeat against Galatasaray followed by a narrow 1-0 home loss to 10-man FCSB three weeks ago.
Razvan Lucescu's side have impressed on the domestic front so far this term, though, as the defending Greek Super League champions sit joint-top of the table with 17 points from their opening eight games, scoring a league-high 14 goals in the process.
The White-Blacks were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with AEK Athens last weekend, with Baba Rahman's early opener cancelled out before the half-hour mark by Frantzdy Pierrot, and neither side were able to find a winner during a tight contest in the Greek capital.
Competing in the Europa League for the first time in four years after reaching the quarter-finals in the Conference League last season, PAOK are seeking to improve their form in Europe's secondary club competition, having won just one of their last 12 matches (D3 L8).
PAOK have, however, only lost one of their last six Europa League fixtures on home soil (the aforenoted defeat to FCSB earlier this month), while they have won all three of their previous home meetings with Czech opposition, which bodes well ahead of their encounter with Viktoria Plzen.
Competing in the Europa League proper for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign, Czech outfit Viktoria Plzen have held their own in this season's competition, even though they are yet to taste victory.
Indeed, Plzen scored two goals in the final four minutes to rescue a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt - 2021-22 Europa League winners - on matchday one, before sharing the spoils in a goalless stalemate with Bulgarian champions Ludogorets three weeks ago.
Miroslav Koubek's side have only lost one of their 17 competitive games across all competitions so far this season and currently sit third in the Czech First League with 24 points from 11 matches, most recently beating Banik Ostrava 3-1 away from home last weekend.
Furthermore, Plzen have surprisingly not lost in 90 minutes in any of their last 22 matches in all European competitions (W15, D7), including qualifiers. Their Europa League away form is less impressive, though, as they will travel to Greece on Thursday having won just three of their last 18 such matches.
Plzen are gearing up for their first-ever meeting with PAOK; they have only previously faced Greek opposition in 2019-20 Champions League qualifying when they drew 0-0 with Olympiacos on home soil, before suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.
Team News
PAOK are set to be without goalkeeper Antonis Tsiftsis as he continues to recover from a muscle injury, so Dominik Kotarski should continue between the sticks.
Jonny Castro, Dejan Lovren and Baba Rahmen - three former Premier League players - could all line up in defence along with Tomasz Kedziora, while Mady Camara and Stefan Schwab will battle for a start in midfield alongside Magomed Ozdoyev.
Only Christian Eriksen and Rayan Cherki (both nine) have created more chances than PAOK winger Kiril Despodov (eight) in the Europa League this season, and he could be joined in attack by Taison and Fedor Chalov.
As for Viktoria Plzen, they appear to have no fresh injury concerns, with Rafiu Durosinmi, Jan Sykora and Christophe Kabongo all still sidelined with long-term knee injuries.
A back three of Sampson Dweh, Svetozar Markovic and Vaclav Jemelka is set to remain intact, with Erik Jirka and Cadu the most likely duo to operate as wing-backs.
Pavel Sulc, who has scored a team-high six goals this term, could play alongside Jiri Panos in an advanced midfield role in behind central striker Prince Kwabena Adu, who scored twice in the win over Banik last weekend.
PAOK possible starting lineup:
Kotarski; Jonny, Kedziora, Lovren, Rahman; Camara, Ozdoyev; Despodov, Konstantelias, Taison; Chalov
Viktoria Plzen possible starting lineup:
Jedlicka; Dweh, Markovic, Jemelka; Jirka, Cerv, Kalvach, Cadu; Sulc, Panos; Adu
We say: PAOK 1-1 Viktoria Plzen
PAOK will view Thursday's fixture as a good opportunity to secure their first Europa League victory of the season, but Viktoria Plzen have made themselves difficult to beat on the continent, winning 15 and drawing seven of their last 22 European matches (including qualifiers), and we can see the Czech side claiming at least a share of the spoils in Greece.
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