Europa League Qualifier Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- PAOK

PAOK's stadium

The scene at PAOK's Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki. Credit: Macdara Ferris (ETPhotos)

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers’ face a considerable challenge in Tallaght to turn around a four-goal deficit and avoid relegation to the Conference League (kick-off 8pm)..

A second-half to forget in Thessaloniki saw the Hoops fall to a 4-0 defeat that has all but ended their dream of a second appearance in the tournament phase of the Europa League .

The visitors had been comfortable until a misplaced Daniel Cleary header on the stroke of half time handed PAOK the lead.

And the Greek side built on that lead as Taison doubled the advantage barely a minute onto the second half.

Josh Honohan then saw red for a second yellow card and goals from Giannis Konstantelias and ex-Chelsea winger Baba Rakhman wrapped up the win.

The Hoops will be in the draw for the group stage of the Conference League and they will hope to go into the tournament on a high with a positive home result.

“Winning this tie against PAOK is nearly impossible but we can win the game,” manager Stephen Bradley said.

“I thought up until Josh Honohan’s sending-off, we were right in the game and the tie. But when you go down to ten men against that level, it’s a difficult ask. 

“To be fair to the players, they never stopped so I expect no different tomorrow night. So we’ll try and win the game. 



“We understand the tie is nearly impossible to win, but we’ll definitely try win tomorrow night.”

Darragh Nugent, Johnny Kenny and Aaron Greene miss out with knocks and Honohan is suspended, but Lee Grace has been passed fit after being rested in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Galway United.

PAOK

PAOK make their second visit to Tallaght, and third overall to Dublin, having beaten Rovers 3-1 there in the Europa League groups in 2011.

They arrive on the back of a 2-0 win over Panetolikos on Sunday, thanks to strikes from Joan Sostra and Tarik Tissoudali to continue the champions’ 100% start to the league.

And they will be confident of closing out the tie with the minimum of fuss having cruised to a 4-0 win in the first leg, playing 40 minutes against ten men.



“I don't know what to say about the spirit of the team. Personally, I always find motivation something that football players also understand,” said boss Razvan Lucescu.

“In football if you don't deal with things the way you should, it will punish you. We know that nothing is decided before the referee's final whistle. 

“We've only played the first game and there's one more to go. We want to go in and win this match too.

“We are playing away from home, we have to be serious, to fight for the victory that will primarily give us qualification.

“But also [to] help us in terms of self-confidence for the rest of the season. With this logic we have prepared this game.”

Lucescu has a full squad to choose from with the exception of Brandon Thomas, while Konstantinos Kouliarakis will play his final game before departing for Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

Referee: Donatas Rumšas (Lithuania).

MATCH STATS

PAOK last faced off against Rovers in the group stages of the 2011/12 Europa League - the Hoops’ first appearance at that level, winning back-to-back ties.

A first-half brace from Dimitris Salpingidis and a third from Georgios Fotakis, before Billy Dennehy pulled one back for Rovers, saw PAOK to a 3-1 win in Tallaght.

PAOK had already won the first meeting between the sides 2-1 in Toumba Stadium with goals from Costin Lazăr and Vieirinha either side of Karl Sheppard’s headed leveller.

And PAOK edged out Bohemians 3-2 in a Conference League third round qualifier on their way to the group stages in 2021/22.

A goal in either half from Ali Coote at the Aviva Stadium had the Gypsies in dreamland before Nélson Oliveira made it 2-1 late on.

And the Greek side completed the turnaround on home soil as first-half goals from Stefan Schwab and Diego Biseswar proved the difference.

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 4/1; Draw 14/5; PAOK 4/7.

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 1 – 1 PAOK

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Darragh Nugent, Aaron Greene, Johnny Kenny.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Josh Honohan.

PAOK

Injured: Thomas Brandon.

Doubtful:None.

Suspended: None.

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