PAOK vs Schalke Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

PAOK’s winning streak came to an end on Sunday as Xanthi held them to a goalless draw in the Greek Super League, extending their unbeaten streak to nine matches but ending a run of eight consecutive wins.  Their form record is still fantastic over the past few months though, with them winning 13 of their last 15 matches in all competitions and losing just once.

In the Europa League things were a little more competitive, with them winning three, drawing one, and losing two of their six group games to leave them 2nd in the table with ten points from a possible 18. This was three points adrift of the group winners Fiorentina but still enough to secure them a spot in the final 32 of the competition. Their two group stage defeats both came against Qarabag, and they actually managed to beat Fiorentina away from home and held them to a goalless draw on home soil.

At home they have won five and lost three of their last eight games though, so their away form actually looks a bit better than they perform in front of their own fans. This has left them 3rd in the Greek Super League with a massive 15 point gulf to make up before they reach the summit of the table.

Schalke aren’t performing well domestically at all, lying 11th in the admittedly more competitive Bundesliga with just 25 points from their 20 league games. They have managed to win two consecutive games though, and whilst their record of four wins, two draws, and six defeats in their last 12 outings isn’t the best they are definitely a team to be feared.

This showed in the Europa League group stages as they picked up an almost perfect 15 points from their six games, beating off competition from Krasnodar, Nice, and Salzburg for the top spot. They eventually won the group by an impressive eight point margin. Their only failure of the group stages was a 2-0 loss away to Salzburg in the final group game, after they had already secured the top spot.

Considering their poor performance domestically, Schalke will be going all out to win this competition, and their record so far along with their superior talent means that they will feel confident of winning this one. Odds of 23/20 for a Schalke win on Thursday look good value, and I’m going for that along with a tight 1-0 correct score predictions at 11/2.