Shamrock Rovers – PAOK

The Greek champion will beat a lesser opponent in Dublin

The first game in this pair of Europa League qualifiers took place a week ago in Thessaloniki. Despite the status of clear favourites, the Greek club took a long time to get going and started to actively create chances only at the end of the first half. Then PAOK scored an unconverted goal in the 41st minute and a converted goal in the 45+5th minute. Going into the second half with a minimal advantage in the score, the hosts scored a quick goal, were on the power play due to a suspension, and then scored two more goals to emphasise their clear advantage (4-0). Before the return leg, Shamrock Rovers have no realistic chance of winning the two-match duel, so there is no point in trying hard, as the club that dropped out of the play-off qualification gets into the main round of the Conference League. Bookmakers have identified the guests as favourites for the return meeting, offering odds of 1.61 on their victory. Shamrock Rovers squeaked past Vikingur Reykjavik in the first round of qualification. In the return leg, the Icelanders could have taken the game into extra time, but failed to convert a penalty on 90+8 minutes. Sparta Prague then beat the Irish twice by two goals, sending them into the Europa League. After an away defeat to Celje, the Irish at home took the game into extra time, where they downed the Slovenians. After the match in Thessaloniki, Shamrock Rovers nearly lost to Galway United in the national championship (1-1). PAOK played their first four official games of the new season in Champions League qualification. In the first encounter, the Greek champion left no doubts about its advantage by beating Borac Banja Luka. The clash with Malmo did not bode well as PAOK snatched a 2-2 draw from Sweden. The Greek champions were 3-2 winners in their home arena, but squandered the victory seconds before the final whistle and gave the Swedes a ticket to the final stage of Champions League qualification in extra time. PAOK won the second meeting of the Greek league last weekend to share the top spot in the Super League with a 2-0 victory. For both rivals in Dublin there is no doubt about the outcome of the duel, so let's bet in favour of the stronger team.