Dynamo Kyiv vs PAOK predictions look ahead to Thursday’s Europa League second qualifying round first leg at the Arena Lublin. Kick-off is at 6pm (UK time). Dynamo are forced to host at a neutral venue in Poland due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Dynamo squeezed through the first qualifying round without scoring a single goal. Two 0-0 draws against Universitatea Cluj ended in a 4-2 penalty shootout victory in Romania. PAOK Thessaloniki arrive with far superior European pedigree. The Greek side competed in the full Europa League group stage last season. Their highlights included a 4-3 win at Lille and a 5-0 hammering of Ferencvaros at home.
Dynamo Kyiv vs PAOK predictions & betting tips
| OUR PREDICTION | ODDS & BOOKMAKER | CONFIDENCE | WHY WE’RE BACKING IT |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAOK to win | 13/10 with bet365 (43.5%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | PAOK played 13 Europa League matches across last season’s group stage and knockout rounds. Dynamo managed zero goals in 240 minutes of qualifying football this summer. That gap in European quality is enormous. The Greek side won away at Lille and thrashed Ferencvaros 5-0 at home, proving they can perform against established opposition. Dynamo’s neutral venue in Lublin removes any home advantage. A side that needed penalties to see off Universitatea Cluj looks outgunned here. At 11/8, PAOK represent genuine value. |
| Half-time draw | 11/10 with Ladbrokes (47.6%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dynamo went into the break 0-0 in both legs of the first qualifying round against Universitatea Cluj. PAOK were level at half-time in eight of their ten Europa League matches from the group stage onwards last season. That is an extraordinary pattern. First legs in European qualifiers reward patience, and neither side will want to overcommit early. Dynamo’s blunt attack and a neutral venue with no atmosphere advantage reinforce the case. The opening 45 minutes point firmly towards a stalemate. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
Dynamo Kyiv vs PAOK odds
How both teams head into Dynamo Kyiv vs PAOK
Dynamo Kyiv
Dynamo’s qualifying campaign has been defined by resilience rather than quality. Two goalless draws against Universitatea Cluj, followed by a 4-2 penalty shootout victory in Romania, got them through. It was far from convincing. Goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret was the standout across both legs, keeping Dynamo in a tie their attack did nothing to win.
The broader European picture offers little comfort. Dynamo won just two of six Conference League group stage matches in 2025-26. Crystal Palace, Samsunspor, Omonia Nicosia, and Fiorentina all beat them. A year earlier, their Europa League group stage produced just two wins from eight matches.
Andrii Yarmolenko remains the squad’s most recognisable name. At 36, the former West Ham winger’s influence is limited to cameos from the bench. Mykola Shaparenko and Oleksandr Pikhalionok provide the midfield creativity. Nazar Voloshyn and Eduardo Guerrero compete for the central striker’s role.
PAOK
PAOK’s 2025-26 Europa League campaign tells the story of a side comfortable at this level. Group-stage highlights included a 4-3 win at Lille and a 5-0 thrashing of Ferencvaros. Young Boys (4-0) and Real Betis (2-0) were also dispatched at home. A knockout round playoff exit to Celta de Vigo ended the run. The experience gained should prove invaluable.
Andrija Zivkovic was the creative heartbeat. The Serbian attacker registered three goals and five assists across ten Europa League appearances. Only Georgios Giakoumakis, who has since left the club, produced more goal involvements. Giannis Konstantelias chipped in with three goals and two assists from midfield. Soualiho Meite added three goals from the defensive midfield position.
The squad has lost key pieces. Giakoumakis scored five goals in seven Europa League games before departing. Zivkovic, Konstantelias, and Fedor Chalov will share the burden of replacing that output.
Dynamo Kyiv team news
Dynamo are expected to name a similar XI to the one that ground through the first qualifying round. Neshcheret starts in goal. Tomasz Kedziora spent last season at PAOK, making 11 Europa League appearances for the Greek side. He returned to Dynamo this summer, started both legs against Universitatea Cluj, and will now face his former club.
Shaparenko, Pikhalionok, and Volodymyr Brazhko form the midfield base. Voloshyn and Matvii Ponomarenko are expected to lead the line. Guerrero and Yarmolenko offer options from the bench.
PAOK team news
Head coach Alessio Lisci has retained most of his Europa League squad. Jiri Pavlenka started eight of PAOK’s 13 Europa League matches last season and is the likely first-choice goalkeeper. Jonjoe Kenny, formerly of Everton, is a regular at right-back. Abdul Rahman Baba occupies the left-back spot.
Giakoumakis’s departure means Chalov is the probable starter through the middle. Zivkovic and Konstantelias should operate either side of him. Kiril Despodov, who contributed one goal and two assists in last season’s Europa League, offers another creative option.
Head-to-head
These two clubs have never met in competitive football. There is no head-to-head record to lean on. The closest thread between the squads is Kedziora. The Polish defender played 11 Europa League games for PAOK last season before returning to Dynamo this summer. His knowledge of PAOK’s set-piece routines and tactical tendencies gives the hosts a minor intelligence edge.
Which side will come out on top at the Arena Lublin?
PAOK are marginal favourites at a best price of 11/8. Dynamo are 6/4 and the draw is 9/4. PAOK played 13 Europa League games last season. Dynamo failed to score in 240 minutes of qualifying football. That price looks generous for the Greek side.
Our bets lean accordingly. PAOK to win at 11/8 is the headline pick. Dynamo’s attacking impotence in the first qualifying round defines this tie. When penalties are your only route past Universitatea Cluj, a side that won at Lille is a different challenge entirely.
The half-time draw at evens pairs well as a secondary play. First legs reward caution. PAOK were level at the break in 80% of their Europa League matches last season. Dynamo’s two goalless halves in the previous round reinforce the pattern. If PAOK are to win this, the second half looks the likelier window.
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