Qarabag vs PAOK Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Qarabag failed to make it into the Champions League group stages again this season, but they are becoming regulars in the Europa League groups, which can be classed as a significant achievement in their history.

Unfortunately for them, this season’s campaign isn’t going too well. They could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to Slovan Liberec in the group opener and were subject to a 5-1 battering by Fiorentina on match-day two. A flurry of goals either side of half-time settled the score, somewhat aided by the sending off of Elvin Yunuszade half an hour into the game. This puts them bottom of the group on goal difference.

They followed this crushing defeat by losing to Qabala in the Azerbaijan Premyer Liqa but have at least managed to bounce back after the international break. Still, this will be a huge test for them. Their hopes will lie with three of their main offensive players. Reynaldo, Michel, and Dani Quintana have ten goals between them this season, although defender Resad Sadiqov is the top scorer in the Europa League with two goals to his name. I’d class Brazilian attacker Reynaldo as the main threat for Qarabag though.

PAOK are in excellent form at the moment, although they will want to improve slightly and start picking up more points. They are unbeaten since a Champions League qualifier defeat at home to Ajax in the summer, but only seven of their 11 games since then have ended in victory.

One of these came in the Europa League as they beat Slovan Liberec 2-1 away from home, following on from a respectable goalless draw against Fiorentina in the group opener to put them second in the group on goal difference.

PAOK do have an issue in front of goal though. None of their players have more than two goals to their name this season, which goes some way to explaining why they have failed to score in three of their last six games. Away from home striker Stefanos Athanasiadis did net twice against Slovan Liberec, but he’s yet to net in their four Greek Super League clashes and none of their team look in particularly good form.

Despite their general lack of goals, they have actually managed to find the net in four of their five away days this season. Qarabag seem a bit out of their depth at the moment and couldn’t manage a win at home against Slovan Liberec, whilst PAOK managed a fairly straightforward win away to them, despite going a goal down within a minute.

The visitors are also unbeaten on the road this season, so backing a PAOK Win or Draw Double Chance at 7/10 looks good value to me. I’m going for a 2-1 win for the visitors at 11/1 as well.