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Recommended bets
[RECOMMENDED_BETS]
Gent are unbeaten at home in the Europa Conference League, winning four of six matches. PAOK have lost just 13 of their last 35 European away matches.
Under 2.5 goals is 13/20.
Draw and under 2.5 goals is 7/2.
PAOK to qualify at the end of 90 minutes is 11/10.
Tarik Tissoudali is 4/1 to break the deadlock and 7/5 to add to his tally of 20 goals for the season.
Match preview
After the first leg in Thessaloniki, it is advantage PAOK.
This sparked wild celebrations at Toumba Stadium but, their team still have plenty of work to do as they travel to East Flanders.
PAOK have become a familiar face on the European landscape, appearing in eight Europa League group stages since 2010.
This season, just to get into the Europa Conference League group phase, they had to overcome both Bohemians and then Rijeka in qualifiers.
Once there, the White-Blacks finished second in Group F, below København but above ŠK Slovan Bratislava and Lincoln Red Imps.
Then, in the first knockout round, Răzvan Lucescu’s side took on Midtjylland, losing 1-0 in Herning before a 2-1 victory at home.
This set up a nervy penalty shootout in Northern Greece, but one PAOK came through with Kurtić stroking home the decisive kick.
So now, they’re just one game away from a first quarter-final in continental competition since the 1974 Cup Winners’ Cup.
K.A.A. Gent meanwhile are, obviously, up against it but will certainly believe they can turn this tie around.
De Buffalo’s actually appeared in the Champions League round of 16 in 2016, before knocking out Spurs in the Europa League last 32 a year later.
That famous victory over Tottenham Hotspur remains their only knockout stage win since reaching the UEFA Cup quarters three decades ago.
This season, Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s side began by winning qualifiers against Vålerenga, FK Rīgas and then Raków Częstochowa.
It was worth it though because they then topped Group B, amassing 13 points against Partizan Belgrade, Anorthosis Famagusta and Flora Tallinn.
Last week’s defeat in Greece means Gent have now lost nine of their last 12 European away games, but they’ll hope to turn the tie around at home.
Who will be celebrating a place in Friday’s quarter-final draw at Ghelamco Arena?
Gent team news
Hein Vanhaezebrouck made a fair few changes for Sunday’s 2-0 victory over bottom of the table Beerschot.
However, all the big guns will be back for this one as Gent look to save their European season.
Tarik Tissoudali has been on the bench for the last two games due to a knock but Gent fans will be desperate to see him in the XI this time.
The Moroccan international has scored 20 goals already this season, including four in this competition, all of which have come in home game.
Sven Kums, Michael Ngadeu and former Huddersfield striker Laurent Depoitre are all also likely to return to the XI.
Davy Roef could keep his place in goal over Sinan Bolat who was the undisputed number one not so long ago.
PAOK team news
The big news for PAOK is that two of their key players were booked in the first leg so are serving a one-match suspension here.
Midfielder Jasmin Kurtić, the first leg goalscorer, and winger Andrija Živković, who’s scored four times in Europe so far, are both unavailable.
With regards the former, Charis Tsingaras and Douglas Augusto are therefore likely to be joined in midfield by Diego Biseswar.
Out-wide, Alexandru Mitriță, who’s on loan from New York City FC, could get a rare start with Léo Jabá on the other wing.
Antonio Čolak will lead the line; he scored five Champions League goals for Malmö this season before returning to PAOK in January.
Greek Super League table:
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