Ajax performed well in the Champions League but still has to play the qualifiers and this is the first obstacle, just like they are for PAOK. Ajax has already won the Dutch Super Cup and had played one league match, while for PAOK this is the first competitive match in the new season. Three years ago Ajax defeated PAOK in the Champions League qualifiers.
The previous season was excellent for PAOK in domestic competitions but they underperformed in Europe. Benfica stopped them in the Champions League qualifications, and they played poorly in the group phase of the Europa League. On the other hand PAOK was almost perfect in Greek competitions, for example it didn’t occupy the first place in the table for only first couple of rounds, they haven’t lost a single match and they drew only four times. PAOK lost several matches in the Cup but they won the title after victory over AEK in the final. Abel Ferreira is new manager and he has replaced Lucescu, while the team also underwent number of changes.
Probable lineups PAOK Thessaloniki: Pachalakis – Rodrigo, Ingason, Varela, Giannoulis – Esiti, Kace – Leo Jaba, Pelkas, Stoch – Akpom
Ajax started new season with the new title as they won their biggest rival PSV 2-0 in the Dutch Super Cup. They used the home-field advantage and routinely won but they failed to repeat that in the first round of new season. They faced always tough Vitesse away and had to accept a draw. Ajax was trailing behind twice in that match but they managed to catch up both times, but objectively they should be happy for not losing the match. Manager ten Hag had made several changes in the team compared to the Super Cup match and the strongest team wasn’t on the pitch. Now, the team will undergo new changes for sure.
Probable lineups Ajax Amesterdam: Onana – Mazraoui, Schuurs, L. Martinez, Tagliafico – Marin, Blind, van de Beek – Ziyech, Tadic, Promes
PAOK is always good at home and we expect to put up a solid resistance to very good Ajax. The guests don’t have to rush as the rematch will be played in Amsterdam, but they have strong attack and we forecast that we will see goals on both sides of the pitch.