Preview: PAOK vs Wolfsberger - prediction, team news, lineups

Both kicking off a new continental campaign, PAOK and Wolfsberger will square off in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie on Thursday.

Vying to meet either Rijeka or Irish champions Shelbourne in the upcoming playoffs, the pair begin their battle in Thessaloniki.

Match preview

With the latest Greek Super League season yet to begin, PAOK will play their first competitive match of 2025-26 this week, ultimately aiming for another shot at the Europa League's expanded league phase.

Last term, the Salonika club came through qualifying by sweeping aside Shamrock Rovers, then edged into the knockout rounds with a run of three wins from their last four games.

Though they immediately exited to Romanian giants FCSB in the playoffs, PAOK further established their credentials as a team to watch, having reached the Conference League quarter-finals twice in the three previous years.

Head coach Razvan Lucescu - now in his second spell at the club - also led them to the Greek title in 2024, though they had to settle for a distant fourth place last season.

Ahead of a new domestic campaign, which will begin at home to AEL on August 23, Lucescu's men must take their first steps in Europe on the back of a brief pre-season trip to the Netherlands.

While PAOK were losing to Ajax and beating NEC Nijmegen in friendly fixtures late last month, Wolfsberg were already back in competitive action.

The Carinthian side started off with a 3-1 win over St Marienkirchen/Wallern in the Austrian Cup, before beginning their league season at home to Altach.

Conceding two late goals cost Didi Kuhbauer's men any chance of securing even one point, as they unsuccessfully sought a fast start following last term's near miss in the title race.

Soon after lifting some long-awaited silverware by beating Hartberg in the cup final, Wolfsberg could not quite seal a spectacular double despite losing only once in 12 games to finish 2024-25.

Though they were only three points behind Bundesliga champions Sturm Graz when the music stopped, finishing fourth in the championship group was just enough for a place in this year's Europa League qualifiers.

PAOK pre-season form: W L

Wolfsberger form (all competitions): W D

Team News

Aiming to boost their squad for another deep run in Europe, PAOK's summer signings have included British full-backs Greg Taylor and Jonjoe Kenny, and both should be involved on Thursday.

Ex-Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis is also set to join on loan from Cruz Azul, but with that move coming too late for this week's game, Fyodor Chalov will most likely start up front.

Club captain Andrija Zivkovic has 20 goals to his name from 89 appearances in UEFA competition and could form part of Chalov's supporting cast.

Meanwhile, Wolfsberg are set to stick with a similar lineup to the XI that started last Saturday's Bundesliga game, despite their defeat.

Veteran striker Markus Pink should lead the line at Toumba Stadium, with coach Didi Kuhbauer generally favouring a 3-4-1-2 formation.

The visitors' sole absentee is versatile defender Chibuike Nwaiwu, who is currently sidelined by a ligament injury.

PAOK possible starting lineup: Pavlenka; Kenny, Lovren, Kedziora, Taylor; Camara, Meite; Zivkovic, Konstantelias, Taison; Chalov

Wolfsberger possible starting lineup: Polster; Matic, Renner, Wimmer; Diabate, Baumgartner, Piesinger, Schopf; Zukic; Ballo, Pink

We say: PAOK 2-0 Wolfsberger

PAOK can call upon more experience and quality across the pitch, so they should shake off any rust and grab a healthy first-leg advantage.

After making a slow start to their league campaign, Wolfsberg may be staring at defeat - and the prospect of a tough Conference League playoff against Fiorentina.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.