Our prediction for this Europa League match:
PAOK
Match Time & Date:
28 August 2025
18:30
Prediction: 1-0
Rijeka
A spot in the Europa League group stages will be at stake when PAOK and Rijeka lock horns in a highly-anticipated game. PAOK are on a quest to overcome a one-goal deficit in front of home fans and they have no other option but to go all guns blazing at the Croatian champions. Bulgaria international Kiril Despodov is pushing for a start after scoring the winner as a substitute against AEL Larissa, while boss Razvan Lucescu has no injury worries.
Rijeka, on the other hand, are expected to adopt a defence-minded approach in the decider. PAOK, however, boast greater experience than Rijeka, and with Toumba Stadium set to be rocking on Thursday, home win should be considered. There are no fresh injury concerns in the visiting team ahead of the trip to Thessaloniki, while Luka Menalo returns to the starting XI after coming as a substitute in a 2-1 loss to Varazdin at the weekend.
Highlighted Player (Mbwana Samatta):
Born in Dar Es Salaam on December 23, 1992, Mbwana Samatta is a Tanzania striker who plays for Genk in the Belgian Jupiler League. Samatta began his youth career at African Lyon and he played his first game at senior level for Simba SC, the club from his homeland.
In 2011 he moved to TP Mazembe and after scoring 60 goals in 103 league games for the club, the Tanzania international signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Genk. On August 23, 2018 Samatta scored a hat-trick against Brondby in the Europa League.
Speaking of his international debut, Samatta made his Tanzania debut in March, 2011 in a 2-1 win over Central African Republic. It has to be noted that the Genk attacker was named African Player of the Year (based in Africa) in 2015. His main position is centre-forward, but is capable of playing as a winger as well. His contract with Genk should expire on June 30, 2020.
Highlighted Team (Rijeka):
Founded on July 29, 1946 as Sportsko Drustvo Kvarner, Rijeka are a Croatian football club that have always been in Dinamo Zagreb’s shadow. Dinamo are undisputedly the biggest football club in Croatia, but Rijeka did well to put an end to their dominance in the HNL in the 2016/2017 season.
The Rijecki bijeli won their first ever domestic trophy and, as a result, they made it to the Champions League qualifiers. However, Greek champions Olympiacos proved to be a big catch for Matjaz Kek’s troops in the play-offs for the group stages of the elite competition.
Before the breakup of Yugoslavia Rijeka won two domestic cups (1977/1978, 1978/1979) and it has to be noted that they clinched their fourth Croatian Cup title in 2017, with the team beating Dinamo Zagreb in the final of the competition. Rijeka welcome their rivals at Stadion Rujevica and the capacity of the stadium is 8.279. The venue was opened in August 2, 2015.
Benfica 
Fenerbahce 
Club Brugge 
Rangers 
FC Copenhagen
Basel 
Fredrikstad
Crystal Palace
Dynamo Kyiv 
Maccabi Tel Aviv 
Genk 
Lech Poznan 
