Shamrock Rovers -v- PAOK

Shamrock Rovers play host to Greek side PAOK Salonika at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday night still seeking their first point in what will be the fourth of their six Europa League group stage games.  (Kick-off 6.00pm)
 

Rovers enter this game as Airtricity league champions having won the title at UCD last Tuesday week and then enjoyed their coronation after the final league game against Galway United last Friday.
 

And there are reasons to hope that the celebratory atmosphere can be extended with results to date supporting the suspicion that PAOK offer the Hoops their most realistic opportunity of securing some lucrative Europa League points.
 

So far, Rovers have been beaten at home by the Russian side Rubin Kazan, and followed that up with away defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and, just two weeks ago, PAOK themselves. But the margins of their losses have steadily decreased with the Greeks winning by just a single goal in the Toumba stadium.
 

With the domestic season now over Michael O’Neill will be aware that his men need to maintain their concentration at peak levels if they are to stay competitive over the remaining three Europa League games.
 

While Rover’s path to this stage of the competition has been well documented, PAOK’s route the the group stages entailed qualifying wins over Norwegian side Valerenga and the conquerers of St Patrick’s Athletic, Karpaty Lviv.
 

The Greeks dealt relatively easily with the Norwegians, winning 2-0 away and 3-0 at home. Karpaty offered more formidable opposition in the play-offs, but a 2-0 win at home set them up nicely, and a 1-1 draw in the Ukraine ensured their progress to the group stages.

 

PAOK opened their group campaign with a creditable 0-0 draw at home to an admittedly under strength Tottenham side. They followed this with an impressive 2-2 draw away to Rubin Kazan, Giorgos Fotakis getting an 81st minute equaliser after a first half lead had been overturned by
their hosts.

 

Then came the visit of Shamrock Rovers two weeks ago. Despite taking an early lead through Costin Lazar, PAOK were pulled back thanks to a 48th minute leveller by Karl Sheppard. But hopes of a valuable away point for Rovers were dashed when Portuguese player Vieirinho scored a
winner just after the hour mark.

 

Having come close in their first meeting the Tallaght faithful will be hoping that their side can go at least one better against the Greeks in a season when fanciful ambition has turned out to be more
attainable than many might have imagined.


Referee: Aleksei Kulbakov (Belarus).
Paddy Power Odds: Rovers 10/3, Draw 23/10, PAOK 9/10.
Extratime prediction: The big question is whether Rovers can beat the instinct that the season is over. I suspect PAOK will sneak it, 1-0.