Celta Vigo will welcome PAOK Thessaloniki to Estadio Abanca Balaidos for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League playoff tie on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
View our free Celta Vigo vs PAOK predictions below.
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Celta Vigo vs PAOK predictions: Goals at both ends
Key stats
- Both teams found the net in six of Celta Vigo's last eight matches.
- Four of PAOK’s last five games produced at least five cards.
- Celta Vigo have beaten PAOK twice this season.
Correct score prediction: Celta Vigo 3-1 PAOK
While PAOK have no wins in their last three games, Celta Vigo are coming off back-to-back wins and are unbeaten in their last three matches.
Moreover, Celta Vigo have two wins in as many clashes with PAOK this season, and the Greek Super League giants suffered a 3-1 defeat the last time they visited this stadium.
Pre-game odds and win probability: PAOK up against it
- HOME: 3/4 (1.75) – 57.1%
- DRAW: 11/4 (3.75) – 26.7%
- AWAY: 7/2 (4.50) – 22.2%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
PAOK played out a 1-1 draw with AEL Novibet last weekend, extending their winless run to three games. The Greek side will hope to overturn a one-goal deficit after suffering a 2-1 home defeat in the first leg of this tie.
On the other hand, Celta Vigo followed last week's victory over PAOK with a 2-0 win against Mallorca last weekend. They will set their sights on qualifying for the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League for the first time since the 2016/17 season.
Ahead of this skirmish, Celta Vigo are the expected winners at 3/4 (1.75). Teams with these odds generally have a 57.1% probability of winning.
Don’t forget to check out more of our best betting tips and predictions after you’ve dissected our Celta Vigo vs PAOK predictions.
Also, bearing in mind that six of Celta Vigo's last eight games produced goals at both ends, BTTS – Yes has an appealing look at 19/20 (1.95). That one has a 51.3% chance of landing.
Most recent H2Hs: Will the third time be the charm for PAOK?
This will be the third encounter between these teams in the UEFA Europa League this season, and although PAOK got on the scoresheet in their previous two meetings, they ended up losing both.
UEFA Europa League 19/02/26
PAOK Salonika
Celta Vigo
UEFA Europa League 02/10/25
Celta Vigo
PAOK Salonika
Celta Vigo preview: Few injury concerns
All three of Hugo Sotelo, Pablo Duran, and Alvaro Nunez are ruled out of this second leg due to injury, while Yoel Lago and Hugo Alvarez both have their availability in doubt due to fitness concerns.
The hosts have no player suspended for Thursday's game, but four players run the risk of missing the first leg of the round of 16 should they receive a booking in this encounter, including Oscar Mingueza, Ionut Radu, Javier Rueda, and Miguel Roman.
Cult hero Iago Aspas is expected to start alongside Borja Iglesias and Williot Swedberg in attack.
Predicted lineup: Radu (GK), Alonso, Starfelt, Rodriguez, Carreira, Roman, Moriba, Rueda, Swedberg, Iglesias & Aspas
Last five matches
- 22/02/26: Celta Vigo 2-0 Mallorca (La Liga)
- 19/02/26: PAOK 1-2 Celta Vigo (Champions League)
- 14/02/26: Espanyol 2-2 Celta Vigo (La Liga)
- 06/02/26: Celta Vigo 1-2 Osasuna (La Liga)
- 01/02/26: Celta Vigo 0-0 Getafe (La Liga)
PAOK preview: Plagued by injuries
The visitors will enter this game heavily depleted due to injuries. Luka Ivanusec, Dimitrios Pelkas, Giannis Konstantelias, Joan Sastre, Kiril Despodov, and former Liverpool star Dejan Lovren are ruled out of this game because of various injuries, while the availability of Soualiho Meite and Jiri Pavlenka is also questionable.
On the suspension list, midfielder Andrija Zivkovic received a milestone yellow card last Thursday and is unavailable here due to suspension, while Giorgos Giakoumakis and head coach Razvan Lucescu are both available for PAOK, having served their suspension last week.
Predicted lineup: Tsiftsis (GK), Kenny, Kedziora, Michailidis, Baba, Ozdoev, Zafeiris, Zivkovic, Chatsidis, Taison & Jeremejeff
Last five matches
- 22/02/26: AEL 1-1 PAOK (Greece Super League)
- 19/02/26: PAOK 1-2 Celta Vigo (Europa League
- 15/02/26: PAOK 0-0 AEK (Greece Super League)
- 11/02/26: PAOK 2-0 Panathinaikos (Greece Cup)
- 08/02/26: Aris 0-0 PAOK (Greece Super League)
Player to watch: Iago Aspas
Iago Aspas scored both goals in Celta Vigo's 2-0 victory over Mallorca last weekend. Including the first leg of this tie, the former Liverpool player has four goal contributions in his last two appearances. Interestingly, Aspas scored in two of two encounters between these outfits this season.