PAOK Thessaloniki vs GNK Dinamo Zagreb Prediction & Betting Tips - Conference League

Prediction published on 14/03/2024, 04:50  by Devesh Jaganath in Conference League Predictions

PAOK will play host to Dinamo Zagreb in the second leg of the Round of 16 in the Europa Conference League on Thursday evening. The visitors currently lead the tie 2-0, thanks to a brace by Bruno Petkovic in the first leg last week. In that match, Dinamo Zagreb’s gameplan was executed to perfection as they set up to play on the counterattack. They only had 39% possession and completed 196 fewer passes than their opponents but only allowed PAOK eight shots on goal and none on target. The Blues made the most of the possession they did have, firing 13 shots at goal with seven on target. Considering this is an away game for them, we could see the visitors set up in a similar way in this game. Zagreb came second in their group in this competition and are currently third in their domestic league. They are unbeaten in their last 11 games in all competitions and are the bookmakers' favourite to qualify for the last eight from this contest. 

Meanwhile, PAOK will need major improvement here following a relatively poor week. After their underwhelming performance in Croatia last week, they kicked off their domestic league playoff round with a 1-0 loss at home to Aris over the weekend, which saw them surrender the lead in Super League 1 to AEK Athens. That result also marked the Double-Headed Eagle of the North’s third consecutive home loss and fourth match without a victory. The last time they won a match on home soil was at the end of January against Panserraikos. Considering their struggles to create clear-cut chances last week and assuming Zagreb set up to defend their lead, PAOK face a major uphill battle to overturn this deficit.