PAOK vs Celta: prediction, head-to-head and probable line-ups – 19 February 2026
One of the Europa League play-off round ties will unfold this Thursday in Thessaloniki, where PAOK will host Spanish side Celta at the iconic Toumba Stadium. The Greeks are eager to avenge their defeat in the group stage, while the Spaniards will look to prove their dominance under the pressure of a fiery Greek atmosphere. Let's break down a bet on the total goals in this clash.
- Also read: Shanghai Port vs Ulsan Hyundai: prediction, head-to-head and probable line-ups – 18 February 2026
Match preview
PAOK head into this encounter in high spirits: February has been flawless so far, with the team booking a spot in the Greek Cup final and holding onto the lead in the league standings on points lost, tied with AEK. Even factoring in European competition, the Greeks have lost just once in the past two months – falling to Lyon (2-4), and even then, a draw slipped away in the dying minutes despite playing with ten men. In the Europa League group stage, PAOK suffered only two defeats in eight matches, showcasing grit and a relentless tempo.
Their main trump card? Home fortress. PAOK haven’t lost at home for a year, boasting an unbeaten streak of 26 matches, 20 of which ended in victory. In this Europa League campaign, the team have conceded just once in Thessaloniki – an 89th-minute goal against Brann (1-1). However, occasional inconsistency up front sometimes prevents them from sealing the deal against opponents.
Celta are going through a rough patch: after a bright start to the year and a 2-1 win over Lille in the Europa League, the Galicians are winless in their last five outings. In La Liga, they fell to Real Sociedad, then rescued a late draw against Espanyol (2-2). Three draws in their last four matches highlight the squad’s fighting spirit, but consistency remains elusive.
On the plus side, Celta are close to full strength, giving the coach plenty of options. In Europe, the Spanish side have been reliable in front of goal, averaging 1.75 goals per match, and they notched a convincing 3-0 away win over Dinamo Zagreb in the group stage. Still, their overall away form has been less impressive, and they'll face intense crowd pressure in Thessaloniki.
Probable line-ups
- PAOK: Pavlenka, Rahman, Michailidis, Kedziora, Kenny, Zafeiris, Ozdoev, Zivkovic, Taison, Chatzidis, Yeremeyev
- Celta: Andrei Radu, Fernandez, Starfelt, Alonso, Mingueza, Moriba, Roman, Carreira, Aspas, Iglesias, Duran
Match facts and head-to-head
- PAOK have lost just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions, with their only defeat coming against Lyon in the Europa League.
- Celta are winless in five straight matches but have scored in every European fixture this season.
- Back in October, Celta defeated PAOK at home during the Europa League group stage.
Prediction
PAOK traditionally play assertively at home and concede very little, but the absence of key attackers could affect their firepower. Celta are struggling for form but consistently create chances, even in tough matches. With the home crowd pushing them on, the Greeks should find the net, and the Spaniards are likely to answer – making a draw with both teams scoring the most logical outcome.
