Conference League: PAOK vs Lincoln Red Imps Preview

Conference League: PAOK vs Lincoln Red Imps Preview

By Michael Vissini,



Matchday 6 of the Conference League has arrived with PAOK back at Toumba for the final fixture welcoming Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar where qualification is at stake.


Prior to this fixture, Razvan Lucescu’s PAOK have been in abysmal form since club football returned in mid-November with a record of zero wins, two draws and three losses in all competitions.


Since the 0-0 draw with Slovan Bratislava on Matchday 5 of the Conference League, PAOK lost bragging rights in the Macedonian Derby to arch-rivals Aris, handing their first win at Toumba in 11 years – a match overshadowed by a minority of PAOK fans from GATE 4 throwing flares and invading the pitch, forcing the match to stop for 42 minutes then resumed without fans for the last 3 minutes.


Yes, a common theme reoccurred in Greek Football - or shalI say, Sfinaki-ball!


Afterwards, PAOK were unsurprisingly penalised by EPO with a heavy fine of €193,500 plus four games behind closed doors for the chaos that ensued in the Derby (the ban does not apply for the match against Lincoln).

Moreover, exactly one week ago, PAOK were on the road to Larissa and faced provincial giants AEL in the Greek Cup Round of 16 playing out a 1-1 draw but crucially hold the away goal thanks to Kurtic’s majestic free kick in stoppage time. It may look like a positive result though PAOK could have done more considering AEL’s entire line-up comprised of benchwarmers whereas Lucescu opted to start the regulars in a very uninspiring performance against the Crimsons.


Furthermore, PAOK fell to a new low the past weekend losing 3-2 to newly promoted Ionikos - the Athenian club’s first win against PAOK in nearly 19 years. A dark night and one to forget, and a match that epitomised the current operations at the club after being crowned Greek champions in 2019.


Given the abysmal form, PAOK want to turn the tide right now by qualifying for the next round of the Conference League, but what is at stake?


After the previous result against Slovan Bratislava that ended 0-0, Lucescu’s side failed to capitalise on the opportunity to potentially finish top of the group prior to this encounter against Lincoln. Now top spot is as good as gone and must aim to finish runner-up and advance to the preliminary knockouts, where PAOK face a third-place team from the Europa League group stage.

PAOK are in 3rd spot on 9 points, as many as 2nd-placed Slovan Bratislava with only goal difference separating the two teams, with PAOK on 2+ and Slovan on 3+. 


As things currently stand, Slovan advance into the preliminary knockouts of the competition, unless PAOK better the Slovakian outfit’s result in the other matchup against Danish giants Copenhagen. However, if PAOK and Slovan win, qualification will be decided on goal difference.


So, at the same time, PAOK are absolutely hoping Copenhagen get the job done against the Slovakians but also go all out for a big home win against Lincoln to ensure qualification is secured. No matter what line-up Lucescu elects, quality will obviously prove to be the main difference in favour of PAOK but must make it count.


The last meeting against Lincoln resulted in a 0-2 win for PAOK which was somewhat a sloppy performance, even coming off lucky where the Gibraltarians thought they had broken the deadlock with Kike Gomez, only to be ruled out for offside after VAR intervention.


Does Lincoln have something up their sleeve coming up at Toumba? 


Of course not. It should be a cruisy night for PAOK and hopefully the win lifts the team’s confidence to turn their season around as well as cap off the rest of 2021 in positive style.


Prediction: PAOK 3-0 Lincoln


Hellas Football 


Follow @michael_vissini

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