Spartak Moscow – PAOK Prediction & Picks (14.08.2018)

Spartak Moscow and PAOK meet at Otkrytiye Arena, in a return match for this phase of the UEFA Champions League (3rd Qualifying Round), after the victory at home of PAOK by (3-2) in the first leg. PAOK has considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor, so in this game the home factor may be decisive.

Spartak Moscow:

Despite the disadvantage of 1 goal of the first leg, the home team will try to take advantage of having scored 2 goals in that match. This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 8 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses as a visitor. against 10 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses at their stadium. The team comes to this match after a home victory over Anzhi Makhachkala by (1-0). In the last 10 home matches for all competitions Spartak Moscow has won 8 and lost 2. Their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches.

Spartak Moscow is a Russian club that has already won ten Premier League titles (Russian Championship), the last one conquered in 2016/17. In addition, Spartak Moscow won three Russian Cups and one Super Cup of Russia, the latter in 2017/18. Spartak Moscow finished third in the 2017/18 Premier League, with only four points less than champion Lokomotiv Moscow. With the third place, Spartak Moscow won the access to the qualifiers of the Champions League 2018/19. Spartak Moscow lost 3×2 in the home of the opponent, PAOK, in this third qualifying round of the 2018/19 Champions League, so it has to reverse playing at home.

PAOK:

The away team comes to this second leg with an advantage of 1 goal, but suffered 2 goals at home in the first leg. This is a team that usually gets better results in away matches than at home, since in the last 30 matches they register 14 wins and 1 loss in away matches, with 37 goals scored and 9 conceded; against 10 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses at their stadium, with 31 goals scored and 18 conceded. In the last 10 away matches PAOK has 9 wins and 1 loss. They have not been very strong defensively, since they have suffered goals in 8 of the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored consistently, as they have scored at least one goal in each of the last 10 matches.

PAOK is a Greek club that has twice won the Super League title, the last in 1984/85, PAOK also won six Greek Cups, the last one last season. The PAOK finished the Super League 2017/18 as runner-up, only six points behind the AEK champion, thus conquering a place of access in the qualifying rounds of the 2018/19 Champions League. What we can see is that PAOK is a team that usually scores goals, starring in games with several goals. PAOK eliminated Basel in the second qualifying round, with 2×1 at home and 0x3 out. Now, in the third qualifying round, PAOK won at home by 3×2 at Spartak and will have to play a good game once again, at Spartak’s home.