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Recommended bets
[RECOMMENDED_BETS]
PAOK have lost just two of their last 14 European home matches. Gent have lost eight of their 11 European away matches.
PAOK to win this first leg is 6/5.
PAOK to win and both teams to score NO is 13/5.
PAOK to win and under 2.5 goals is 7/2.
Antonio Čolak is 7/2 to break the deadlock and 6/5 to score anytime.
Match preview
Who will keep their European dreams alive with victory in this round of 16 tie?
This season, the White-Blacks’ Europa Conference League adventure began in the third qualifying round, overcoming Bohemians and then Rijeka.
They then finished second in Group F with 11 points, below København but above ŠK Slovan Bratislava and Lincoln Red Imps.
This set up a first knockout round meeting with Midtjylland in which, despite losing 1-0 in Herning, PAOK fought back and won the second leg 2-1.
Andrija Živković and then Vieirinha on target in Thessaloniki.
The tie was then settled via a penalty shootout, in which the hosts scored all five with Jasmin Kurtić’s spot-kick sending them through.
Domestically, Răzvan Lucescu’s side are second in the Greek Super League, following Sunday’s 2-0 victory at PAS Lamia.
But, given that they’re 12 points below serial champions Olympiacos, the runners-up spot is probably the best they can hope for.
Now though, can PAOK continue a European adventure that began seven months ago in Dublin?
Gent can better that with their Europa Conference League campaign commencing in qualifying round two back on 22 July.
Nevertheless, the Buffalos saw off Vålerenga, FK Rīgas and then Raków Częstochowa to book their place in a sixth UEFA group stage.
Once there, they eased to top spot, losing just once in six matches against Partizan Belgrade, Anorthosis Famagusta and Flora Tallinn.
K.A.A. Gent memorably reached the Champions League round of 16 in 2016, before defeating Tottenham in the Europa League last 32 a year later.
However, victory in this tie would see them appear in a European quarter-final for the first time since a defeat to Ajax in the UEFA Cup 30 years ago.
Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s side are in great form right now, winning their last six matches, including Sunday’s victory over Zulte Waregem.
In this time, they’ve moved up to third in the Jupiler Pro League and reached the Belgian Cup Final where they’ll face Anderlecht next month.
This tie is very much up for grabs so will there be a winner in the first leg at Toumba Stadium?
PAOK team news
Despite being without long-term absentees Alexandru Mitriță and Nélson Oliveira, PAOK have plenty of attacking threat at their disposal.
Chuba Akpom, on loan from Middlesbrough, scored the winner in the 2019 Greek Cup Final as his team completed the league and cup double.
However, he is unlikely to start with Andrija Živković, Léo Jabá and Antonio Čolak making up the front three.
Živković has scored four in his last six European appearances, while Čolak netted five times in the Champions League this season for Malmö before returning to PAOK in January.
José Ángel Crespo, Jasmin Kurtić, Lefteris Lyratzis, Giannis Michailidis, Stefan Schwab and Živković would all miss the second leg if booked.
Gent team news
Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s team do not have anyone walking that particular tightrope.
Gent’s man to watch is certainly winger Tarik Tissoudali, who has scored 20 goals in 40 appearances this season.
He was actually rested at the weekend but will return up front, alongside former Huddersfield striker Laurent Depoitre.
Sven Kums and Julien de Sart are the solid, experienced duo in midfield.
Turkish international goalkeeper Sinan Bolat will be hoping to add to his tally of 16 clean sheets so far this season.
Greek Super League table:
Jupiler Pro League table:
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