PAOK vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Prediction & Betting Tips (24 September)

PAOK Thessaloniki will host Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Toumba Stadium on September 24th in what promises to be a compelling Europa League group stage clash. The Greek side, led by seasoned tactician Răzvan Lucescu, enters the match with a mixed bag of recent results, including a 4-1 defeat to Levadiakos that exposed defensive vulnerabilities. However, PAOK’s attacking unit remains potent, with Fedor Chalov finding the net and the team averaging 1.7 goals per game over their last six outings. The home crowd will be crucial, as PAOK boasts a strong record in Thessaloniki and will look to capitalize on Maccabi’s travel fatigue.

Maccabi Tel Aviv, under the guidance of Željko Lazetić, arrives in Greece riding a wave of momentum. The Israeli outfit has strung together four consecutive wins, including a dominant 4-0 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva, where Dor Peretz bagged a brace and Oscar Davida added flair to the attack. With an average of 2.8 goals per game and a defense that concedes less than one goal per match, Maccabi appears well-balanced and confident. Yet, their away form in European competition has been less convincing, and the hostile atmosphere in Toumba could tilt the scales.

Neither side has faced the other in official competition before, adding an element of unpredictability to the encounter. PAOK’s tactical discipline and ability to strike early—having scored first in four of their last six matches—could be decisive. Meanwhile, Maccabi’s high pressing and fluid midfield transitions will test PAOK’s backline, which has shown signs of fragility. Expect a chess match in midfield, where the likes of Peretz and Konstantinos Koulierakis will be pivotal in dictating tempo and breaking lines.

With both teams capable of finding the net and the stakes high in the group opener, a tightly contested affair is anticipated. PAOK’s home advantage and experience in European nights should give them the edge, but Maccabi’s attacking verve ensures they won’t go quietly. A 2-1 scoreline in favor of PAOK feels like the most plausible outcome—one that reflects the hosts’ resilience and the visitors’ spirited challenge.