A slender first-leg win for Club Brugge might give the Belgian team an advantage on paper, but in reality, things could be somewhat different. Toumba Stadium is not a very welcoming ground and PAOK managed to overcome an even larger deficit against Dinamo Zagreb in the round of 16. So Club Brugge must prepare themselves for one tough battle in Greece.
PAOK Team News
Rewind time a month back and we will see PAOK losing 2-0 to Dinamo Zagreb in the first game from their round of 16 tie. And when it came down to the game in Greece, we saw a different PAOK, one that obliterated the Croats with 5-1. Now, they are also trailing behind after the first bout, but with just 1-0. Răzvan Lucescu knows this very well and he also reminded that the Greek supporters are truly a 12th man that can be counted upon at home. This support surely has come into play in the Conference League, as PAOK are unbeaten at home in the tournament. Their stats show 4 wins and 1 draw at the Toumba Stadium, but something else also catches the eye – the fact that PAOK has scored at least 2 goals in all of said Conference League games.
Club Brugge KV Team News
Club Brugge will travel to Greece with a slim advantage, but they have certainly shown a different face away from home. Despite winning all of their visits in the group stage, in the round of 16, they did lose away to Molde. But a broader view of the Belgian side’s travels might reveal a concerning trend for interim manager Nicky Hayen – just 1 victory from his team’s last 7 competitive away games. Moreover, 3 of those games saw Club Brugge lose. It will not be an overstatement to say that Nicky Hayen will be facing his biggest challenge yet during Club Brugge’s second-leg battle with PAOK.
Head-to-Head-Games
There isn’t a rich head-to-head history between these two teams, but it is worth mentioning that PAOK are yet to record a win over Club Brugge. The Belgians too did not have a win over their Greek rivals but that changed with their 1-0 win in the first game from the Conference League quarter-finals.
PAOK – Club Brugge KV Betting Prediction
PAOK are a tough team to face, especially at home. They have turned Toumba Stadium into a fortress and can always count on their 12th man there – their loyal and passionate fans. Club Brugge might have a 1-0 advantage, but they have faced some serious issues on their travels as of late. This is something that will surely be exploited by a strong host such as PAOK. That is why my pick here is for the hosts to win this fixture.
Betting Tip: PAOK To Win
Bookmaker: BC.Game
Odds: 1.88
BC.Game
Place your bet on PAOK – Club Brugge KV at BC.Game