Europa League
2026-02-19 - PAOK vs Celta Vigo
A Sports Betting Pick by Gladiator
Football: Europa League - Play Offs - 1/16 Finals
Toumba Stadium (Thessaloniki), Greece
Thursday, 19th February 2026 - Kick Off 18:45 CET
PAOK
PAOK will feel this is a real opportunity to make a statement at home before heading to Spain for the return leg. They finished just behind Celta in the league phase and already know what to expect after losing 3-1 in Vigo earlier in the competition. That result will still be fresh in their minds, especially as they created chances but were punished defensively.
At Toumba Stadium, PAOK are a completely different side. They are unbeaten at home in all competitions this season and rarely fail to find the net in front of their passionate supporters. Even their recent 0-0 draw with AEK showed how solid they can be, but in Europe, they tend to play with more freedom. The fact that several of their recent Europa League matches produced high goal totals suggests they are not afraid to open up when the occasion demands it.
Celta Vigo
Celta return to Greece knowing they already have the edge psychologically after beating PAOK during the league phase. However, their recent form is far from convincing. They are without a win in five matches across all competitions, and defensive issues continue to hold them back, especially late in games.
That said, Celta rarely struggle to score. Borja Iglesias is in good rhythm, and the team has been involved in plenty of matches where both sides find the net. Their away record in the Europa League is not particularly strong, but they do carryan attacking threat and have shown they can hurt PAOK before. With the second leg at home, they may approach this game with balance rather than pure caution.
Betting Verdict
This first leg feels like it has goals in it. PAOK are extremely strong at home and almost always create chances in Thessaloniki, while Celta’s defensive record suggests they are unlikely to keep a clean sheet. At the same time, the Spanish side possess enough quality in attack to trouble the hosts. With both teams having scored in most of their recent fixtures and already producing four goals in their previous meeting, backing both teams to score looks the right angle here.
The Pick :
PAOK 2-2 Celta Vigo
