ECL-PO-L1: PAOK - SK Brann (20.08.26, 20:45 EEST)

[Blackhawk]

  VS  

 

MATCHUP:              PAOK Thessaloniki FC – SK Brann
COMPETITION:     Europa Conference League – Playoff Round – Leg 1
DATE:                    20-August-2026
TIME:                     20:45 EEST (17:45 UTC, 12:45 CDT, 03:45 AEST next day)
CITY/STADIUM:   Thessaloniki – Toumba Stadium Stadium (28,708)
REFEREES:              Daniel siebert - Dominik Schaal, Robert Wessel (Germany)
TELEVISION:         OPEN Beyond (Greece)

PAOK’s History against teams from Norway in European Competitions

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025-2026:  PAOK FC – SK Brann    1:1 – (64. Ivanusec) - Att: 16,005 – Europa League (League Phase – MD5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011-2012:  PAOK FC – Valerengen Oslo IF   3:0 – (45. Vieirinha, 49. Athanasiadis, 58. Fotaskis) - Att: 22,156 – Europa League (QR3 – Leg 2)
2011-2012:  Valerengen Oslo IF – PAOK FC   0:2 – (72. Vieirinha, 90. Garcia) - Att: 3,019 – Europa League (QR3 – Leg 1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009-2010:  PAOK FC – Valerengen Oslo IF   0:1 – Att: 22,130 – Europa League (QR3 – Leg 2)
2009-2010:  Valerengen Oslo IF – PAOK FC   1:2 – (31. Lino, 38. Muslimovic) - Att: 3,470 – Europa League (QR3 – Leg 1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003-2004:  SFK Lyn Oslo – PAOK FC   0:3 – (52. Giasemis, 55. Koutsis, 62. Vokolos) - Att: 2,800 – UEFA Cup (Round 1 – Leg 2)
2003-2004:  PAOK FC – SFK Lyn Oslo   0:1 – Att: 7,221 – UEFA Cup (Round 1 – Leg 1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GAMES:  7   WINS:  4   TIES:  1   LOSSES:  2

 

[Blackhawk]

At least we now have a new option on offense. The problem will be who will take Konstantelias's place. Pelkas comes to mind, but has been awful so far this season. Also Chatsidis will take Zivkovic's spot. Hopefully he can help. We will have a tough time against Brann in my opinion.

[pash]

I can't imagine we'll have a very different starting lineup than last game. Pelkas for Konstantelias, Chatsidis for Zivkovic. A shame Despodov still isn't able to play.

I would also not be shocked if we play three CMs instead of Pelkas, though. Santamaria/Zafeiris/Camara.

[Dutch Eagle]

The list for the matches vs Brann.  Weird that Konstantelias is included. But don't know when this list was supposed to be dropped at the offices of UEFA. 

Παβλένκα, Τσιφτσής, Μοναστηρλής, Κένι, Χατζηδιάκος, Μιχαηλίδης, Ελουστόντο, Γιαννούλης, Γκόμεζ, Μπάμπα, Θυμιάνης, Τέιλορ, Καμαρά, Σανταμαρία, Πέλκας, Τάισον, Ζαφείρης, Άλι, Λουσέ, Τσοπούρογλου, Κωνσταντέλιας, Ζίβκοβιτς, Γερεμέγιεφ και Σορετίρε.

 

Οι Μύθου, Μπέρδος, Χατσίδης και Μπαταούλας έχουν δηλωθεί στη λίστα Β, η οποία προς το παρόν δεν εμφανίζεται στην ιστοσελίδα της UEFA.

[pash]

Bet you they're going to make the update with another signing right before the game

[PaokCT]

Am I reading that right? 4 left backs?? Wouldn’t surprise me to see them play Baba as LW

Edited yesterday at 11:57 AM by PaokCT

[pash]

Ugh and Taylor as CM

[PaokCT]

We are so short on players we are playing dudes at random positions

[Blackhawk]

With the absence of Konstantelias (and Zivkovic), I would not be surprised to see a 4-3-3 formation.

It will be while before we see Despodov. Taha Ali has been doing minimal training. He might be available for the 2nd leg.

[PaokCT]

Don’t we always play a 4-3-3? 4-2-3-1 is essentially the same…

[Blackhawk]

They are similar, but 4-3-3 does not really have a "dekari", which in our case was Konstantelias. Pelkas can play that position for sure, but he has been very poor so far and if I was the coach I would not be starting him.

Also, UEFA for some reason changed the refs for this game. Instead of the Portuguese refs we now have German refs.

[pash]

inPAOK was saying the trainings make it looks like they might play a 4-3-3 with Louchet or Camara as the third option. Doesn't really make the picture clearer, of course. Just means we can expect to see one of Louchet, Camara, or Pelkas get the start there.

I am certain that either way, Chatsidis gets the start on the right wing.

In other news, it looks like Ali trained normally so I wouldn't be surprised if he sees action (though probably as a sub, I'd assume). I thought I saw him wearing a brace of some sort as well.

[Blackhawk]

Zivkovic received a 2 game ban for his red card against Anderlecht. He will miss both Brann games.

[Dutch Eagle]

1 hour ago, Blackhawk said:

Zivkovic received a 2 game ban for his red card against Anderlecht. He will miss both Brann games.

The scenario was written all over it from the start.  

[Blackhawk]

The reason being that he was also our captain in the game, although I heard that he was facing a possible 3-game ban.

[pash]

Think he'll learn a lesson? Or nah?