PAOK will take on Rijeka on Thursday, 28 August, in the second leg of their Europa League playoff.
The prize for the winner of the tie is a place in the Europa League league phase, and after the first leg finished 1-0 to Rijeka, it is all still to play for.
As part of this week's round of Europa League betting tips, check out our PAOK vs Rijeka prediction below.
Contents
PAOK vs Rijeka prediction: Palace to qualify in style
Key Stats
- Only one goal has been scored in normal time across PAOK's last three European matches.
- Rijeka have failed to win five of their last six European away matches.
- PAOK have won eight of their last nine European home matches.
Correct score prediction: PAOK 1-0 Rijeka
PAOK know that they must win this match to keep their Europa League hopes for the season alive, and we're backing them to take it to extra time. Low-scoring games have been the norm for the hosts so far this season, and given the state of the tie, this should be a tense affair.
Pre-game odds and win probability: The hosts are huge underdogs
- HOME: 8/13 (1.62) – 61.9%
- DRAW: 14/5 (3.80) – 26.3%
- AWAY: 9/2 (5.50) – 18.2%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The PAOK vs Rijeka indicate that the hosts should have enough to at least force extra time on Thursday night. Ladbrokes have priced PAOK as the odds-on favourites, giving them a 61.9% chance of winning the match on the night. Rijeka, meanwhile, have been given just an 18.2% chance of winning in Greece.
You can find all our predictions for today's games on our football betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: Honours even
This will be the fourth time that these two clubs have played against each other in the last four years, and as things stand, the overall H2H is completely level, with one win each and a draw. The clashes in 2021 were in the Conference League playoff round, and on that occasion, the match in Greece finished 1-1. An identical result here would send Rijeka through.
UEFA Europa League Qualifying 21/08/25
HNK Rijeka
PAOK Salonika
UEFA Conference League Qualifying 26/08/21
HNK Rijeka
PAOK Salonika
UEFA Conference League Qualifying 19/08/21
PAOK Salonika
HNK Rijeka
PAOK preview: Need more goals
While PAOK have been largely impressive at the back so far this season, they have struggled going the other way, which will be a concern. Their lack of goals could see Kiril Despodov come into the starting XI for this one. The 28-year-old scored the winner off the bench at the weekend, just one minute after entering the pitch.
Predicted lineup: Pavlenka (GK), Kenny, Lovren, Michailidis, Rahman, Ozdoev, Meite, Zivkovic, Ivanusec, Konstantelias, Giakoumakis
Greece Super League 1 11/05/25
W
AEK Athens
0
PAOK Salonika
1
Greece Super League 1 04/05/25
L
Olympiakos
4
PAOK Salonika
2
Greece Super League 1 27/04/25
W
Panathinaikos
1
PAOK Salonika
2
Greece Super League 1 13/04/25
L
Panathinaikos
3
PAOK Salonika
1
Greece Super League 1 06/04/25
W
Olympiakos
1
PAOK Salonika
2
Rijeka preview: Expected to go in unchanged
Rikeka have no reason to change anything from the side that won the first leg last week, especially as they were able to rest nearly half of these players in the league at the weekend. The two injured players who missed the first leg, Mile Skoric and Dominik Yankov, are also unavailable for selection on Thursday.
Predicted lineup: Zlomislic (GK), Lasickas, Majstorovic, Radeljic, Devetak, Jankovic, Petrovic, Dantas, Ndockyt, Fruk, Menalo
Croatia HNL 10/05/25
W
HNK Sibenik
0
HNK Rijeka
1
Croatia HNL 04/05/25
W
HNK Gorica
1
HNK Rijeka
2
Croatia HNL 27/04/25
L
Dinamo Zagreb
1
HNK Rijeka
0
Croatia HNL 23/04/25
L
NK Osijek
2
HNK Rijeka
0
Croatia HNL 19/04/25
L
Istra 1961
2
HNK Rijeka
0
Player to watch: Georgios Giakoumakis
Georgios Giakoumakis is back in Greek football after spending five years sampling other leagues across the world, including the Scottish Premiership and Liga MX. To his credit, wherever he has been, he has been a reliable goalscorer, and PAOK need that more than anything right now. Can he score his first goals for his new club on Thursday?