PAOK – Chelsea SOCCER PICKS
PAOK and Chelsea meet in Stadio Toumbas, in a match for this phase of the UEFA Europa League (Group Stage). This will be the first direct confrontation between these two teams, as they have never faced each other before. Attention to the house factor, since the PAOK usually conquer different results at home and abroad.
PAOK:
The home team had direct access to this group stage, so they will play their first match in this edition of the competition. This is a team that, oddly enough, has had better results in away matches than at home, since in the last 30 matches they register 12 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in away matches; against 9 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses at their stadium. The team comes to this match after an away win against OFI by (1-3). In the last 10 home matches PAOK has won 6, tied 2 and lost 2. Their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches. In their away matches there is a tendency for goals, since 22 of the last 24 matches have ended with Over 1,5 goals and 19 out of 24 have ended with Over 2,5 goals. In the last 5 home matches for all competitions there are 2 periods that stand out: they scored 3 of their 7 goals between minutes (31′-45 ‘); He suffered 3 of his 7 goals between the minutes (16’-30 ‘).
The PAOK leaves for this game motivated, with a victory by 1-3, in the field visit of OFI Crete. It is important to note that the Greeks fell for the Europa League, after being eliminated by Benfica in the play-off of access to the group stage of the Champions League. In this home game, coach Razvan Lucescu must act with a more defensive strategy, exploring only the counterattack. To remember that the formation of PAOK presents some difficulties, both at an offensive and defensive level. For this game the coach can count on his habitual holders.
Chelsea:
The visiting team will make its debut in this edition of the competition, as it did not have to play any of the eliminatory games prior to this group stage. This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 7 wins, 2 draws and 6 losses in away matches, with 21 goals scored and 21 conceded; against 8 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses at their stadium, with 24 goals scored and 13 conceded. The team comes to this match after a home victory over Cardiff City by (4-1). In the last 10 away matches for all competitions, Chelsea won 7 and lost 3. Their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 8 of the last 10 matches.
Chelsea comes to this game motivated by the victory against Cardiff, 4-1. Of note that the visiting team won all the matches played in the English championship until now. In this visit to Greece, the coach Maurizio Sarri must act in 4-3-3, privileging possession of the ball and organized attacks, mainly through the flanks: Hazard and Pedro must play for the wings of the team. For this game the visiting coach can count on the entire squad at his disposal.
