Dinamo Tbilisi vs PAOK Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

Since the club was purchased by businessman Roman Pipia in 2011, FC Dinamo Tbilisi have been the most prominant Georgian football team. Dinamo won the domestic double in three of the last four season (2013, 2014 and 2016) and have been regular participants in European competition, ableit somewhat unsuccessfully. As Georgian champions at the end of last season, Dinamo qualified for the Champions League second qualifying round. They beat Alashkert 3-1 on aggregate to progress onto the third qualifying round but their journey soon came to an end with an aggregate 3-0 defeat against Croatian champions Dinamo Zagred.

Greek Superleague runners up PAOK are another side recently taken over by a new majority shareholder. Ivan Savvidis has helped keep the team afloat and, as recently as 2015, payed off all the club’s remaining debts to the Greek government. While PAOK are yet to win a domestic title under his ownership, things look to be on the rise for the club. PAOK were able to secure a “big name” signing in ex-Man United striker Dimitar Berbatov in 2015 and have featured in European competition consistently for the past six years.

Both Dinamo and PAOK come into this Europa League playoff fixture after their respective knockouts from the Champions League third qualifying round. While Europa League football shouldn’t be below either side here, neither side has been particularly consistent in the competition in the past. Admittedly, PAOK’s last taste of Europa League action was their 1-0 win away to Borussia Dortmund last December, which is an impressive feat for any club. Other than this result, however, it seems as if the visitors never have the drive to win. Five of PAOK’s last seven Europa League matches have ended in a draw, three of which were 0-0 draws and the other two 1-1 draws. Meanwhile, Dinamo Tbilisi have failed to scored in three of their last four Europa League matches and are tactically more of a side who sit back as opposed to trying to dominate a match.

We fail to see how there can be too much action unfolding in this match and, as such, draw at 23/10 and 0-0 draw at 7/1 with bet365 are our choice bets for this Europa League playoff round first leg fixture.