EP-LP-MD2: Celta Vigo - PAOK (02.10.25, 22:00 EEST)

[Blackhawk]

 VS 

MATCHUP:               RC Celta Vigo – PAOK Thessaloniki
COMPETITION:      Europa League – Group Phase – MD2
DATE:                       02-October-2025
TIME:                       22:00 EEST (19:00 UTC, 14:00 CDT, 07500 AEDT next day)
CITY/STADIUM:     Vigo – Estadio de Balaidos (24,870)
REFEREES:             Igor Pajac - Bojan Zobenica, Ivan Mihalj (Croatia)
TELEVISION:          COSMOTE Sport (Greece), Stan Sport (Australia), DAZN (Canada), Paramount+, ViX (USA)

PAOK’s History against teams from Spain in European Competitions

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2024-2025:  Real Sociedad – PAOK  2:0 – Att: 23,872 – Europa League (Group Phase – MD8)
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2020-2021:  PAOK – Granada CF      0:0 - Att: no fans - Europa League (Group Stage - Round 6)
2020-2021:  Granada CF – PAOK      0:0 – Att: nf – Europa League (Group Stage - Round 2)
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2010-2011:  PAOK – Villareal CF      1:0 – (69. Vieirinha) - Att: 22,779 - Europa League (Group Stage - Round 4)
2010-2011:  Villareal CF – PAOK      1:0 – Att: 14,760 – Europa League (Group Stage - Round 3)
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1997-1998:  Atletico Madrid – PAOK   5:2 – (20. Frantzeskos, 65. Maragos) - Att: 28,000 – UEFA Cup (Round 2, Leg 2)
1997-1998:  PAOK – Atletico Madrid   4:4 – (15. Frantzeskos, 55. Olivares, 75. Zagorakis, 82. Zouboulis) – Att: 25,378 – UEFA Cup (Round 2, Leg 1)
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1990-1991:  PAOK – Sevilla FC        0:0 (3:4 pen) – Att: 35,000 – UEFA Cup (Round 2, Leg 2)
1990-1991:  Sevilla FC – PAOK        0:0 – Att: 40,000 – UEFA Cup (Round 2, Leg 2)
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1982-1983:  Sevilla FC – PAOK        4:0 –- Att: 52,532 – UEFA Cup (Round 2, Leg 2)
1982-1983:  PAOK – Sevilla FC        2:0 – (49. Dimopoulos C., 61. Kostikos) – Att: 17,725 – UEFA Cup (Round 2, Leg 1)
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1975-1976:  FC Barcelona – PAOK     6:1 – (77. Anastasiadis) - Att: 30,000 – UEFA Cup (Round 1, Leg 2)
1975-1976:  PAOK – FC Barcelona     1:0 – (73. Koudas) - Att: 45,020 – UEFA Cup (Round 1, Leg 1)
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GAMES:  13    WINS:  3    TIES:  5    LOSSES:  5

[Blackhawk]

Celta is struggling in La Liga. I predict either heavy defeat, or PAOK winning a close game (0:1, 1:2).

[PaokCT]

They have yet to win a competitive game this season. If we want to advance this is a must result for us. 

[Blackhawk]

[Blackhawk]

Croatian crew to officiate the game.

We have yet to win a game in Spain in European competition. There is always the first time.

[Blackhawk]

[Blackhawk]

Semi rotation by Razvan throwing in the two Italians.

[Brklyngrk]

0-1 Paok (Giakoumakis)

[pash]

Konstantelias "dribbling" the ball out of bounds so the Celta player can't do a throw-in 30 seconds after they get carded for doing the same thing is really stupid.

Anyway, as I type this they score the 1-1. We have been pretty garbage imo.

[Blackhawk]

We have been outplayed at every aspect of the game. Pavlenka kept us in it in the first half before we scored the goal. Not surprisingly they tied in the dying seconds of the first half. If we can squeak out a 1:1 tie out of this game it will be a miracle.

[Blackhawk]

So much for getting a tie. 2:1.

[Blackhawk]

3:1. Way too easy for them to create chances to score. And they do.

[pash]

Every. Single. Pass. Goes right to one of their players. For four games in a row. Think Lucescu's noticed?

[PaokCT]

I genuinely question if Lucescu is trying to force his way out

[paokarag4]

The plan was to keep it tight and hopefully pinch a goal, which we managed to do. The timing of their equaliser no doubt deflated the us mentally. Regardless of that, it probably was a matter of a time until they equalised.

Konstantelias was good and our only real threat. I thought while we were keeping ourselves compact Michailidis was also quiet solid. Bianco looked to be a hard working defensive midfielder, who didn't mind a challenge but was pretty safe with the ball. 

The pressure continues to mount, a loss against Olympiacos and who knows what will happen with Lucescu. Although it's hard to be confident in us getting a win given our current form, reality is a victory puts us back to the top of the table heading into the 2nd international break of the season. Showing how volatile the situation is. 

Big picture Europe wise, this was a game that we had penciled in as a loss regardless of their form. The 3 key games left are Young Boys, Brann and Ludogorets. 2 of those 3 won today so they won't be easy by any stretch. Our performances and form needs a massive improvement, nothing is lost yet but the early signs are not overly encouraging.