2023-24 UEFA Europa Conference League: Group Stage – PAOK Salonika vs Aberdeen

PAOK Salonika host Aberdeen at Toumba Stadium in Group G of 2023-24 UEFA Europa Conference League. 

Victory will see PAOK secure qualification for the knockout stages, whilst Aberdeen will stay third in the group with a win as anything else coupled with a win for Eintracht Frankfurt elsewhere would eliminate the Dons.

 

Team News

Soualiho Meite will return for PAOK Salonika after he was suspended for their away win at Aberdeen in late October.

Ally Samatta, Marcos Antonio and Vierinha remain absent.

Aberdeen have no fresh injury concerns to report after their Scottish League Cup semi-final win over Hibernian despite Jack McKenzie’s red card, with McKenzie available for selection as his suspension only applies to domestic matches.

James McGarry and Shayden Morris both remain sidelined with hamstring injuries until November.

 

When is Kick-Off?

PAOK Salonika host Aberdeen at Toumba Stadium on Thursday 9 November in a 7:45pm EET (5:45pm UK Time) kick-off, live on TNT Sport 3 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• PAOK won their only previous meeting against Aberdeen by 3-2 result at Pittodrie last month.
• Aberdeen are playing PAOK Salonika away for the first time in all competitions.
• Konstantinos Koulierakis and Kiril Despodov have both scored two goals apiece for PAOK Saolinika in this group.
• Bojan Miovski and Dante Polvara have both scored two of Aberdeen’s four goals in this group.

 

Prediction

After fighting back from 2-0 down at Pittodrie a fortnight ago to win, PAOK can come into this game full of belief after that gutsy display whilst they more recently beat domestic rivals – Olympiacos in a cracking contest so I expect them to really be up for this with an eye on qualification.

Aberdeen meanwhile are still underdogs with fast-fading hopes of pulling off a shock qualification for the knockout stages, yet they have showed real bravery in this group to lose each game by just one goal but will want a reaction here after blowing their 2-0 lead at home.

PAOK though aren’t top of this group for no reason but I expect Aberdeen to again cause issues but if they can get in front, their defence need to be resilient and tight otherwise the hosts surely will find a way to snatch the win.

Prediction: PAOK Salonika 2-1 Aberdeen

Result: PAOK Salonika 2-2 Aberdeen