PAOK vs Maccabi Tel Aviv | Football Previews & Free Betting Tips | 24th September 2025

Group-stage business in Thessaloniki as PAOK welcome Maccabi Tel Aviv on 24 September 2025. Both clubs arrive top-end in their domestic leagues and fancy themselves to go deep, so this has the feel of an early tone-setter for the section.

Toumba will be bouncing, the home end driving the tempo with a sizeable away following expected. On the pitch, PAOK usually set up with a proactive 4-3-3, pinning full-backs high and counter-pressing immediately after losses. Maccabi Tel Aviv are comfortable with a 4-2-3-1 that values long spells of controlled possession and quick vertical punches when the space opens. It’s a clash of two confident, well-drilled units.

PAOK average around 58% possession and 14–15 shots per game. A lot of their threat comes from wide-to-central rotations: the wide runner drags the line, the eight arrives late, and cut-backs supply the striker. Set pieces are a steady extra (about 0.4 goals per match).

Maccabi Tel Aviv are tidy and patient on the ball (circa 62% possession, pass completion ~86%). The double pivot squeezes counters and the back line holds a disciplined shape, which is why their xG against sits under 1.0 most weeks.

Expect the first press from PAOK to be aggressive; if Maccabi bypass it, they’re excellent at establishing territory and working the half-spaces. Touchline battles and rest-defence organisation could decide it.

PAOK over the last 10: 8-1-1. Goals: 22 for, 9 against (2.2 scored / 0.9 conceded per game). Clean sheets: 2. Strong recent habit of scoring first and building from there.

Maccabi Tel Aviv over the last 10: 7-1-2. Goals: 19 for, 7 against (1.9 scored / 0.7 conceded per game). Clean sheets: 4. Defence travels well and they’re ruthless once in front.

PAOK at home: consistent pressure, early territory, and a good run of multi-goal outings at Toumba. The back line holds a sensible height, allowing the front three to stay threatening between the lines.

Maccabi Tel Aviv away: compact, risk-aware, and efficient on transitions. The visitors tend to keep opponents to low shot quality on the road, which explains the lean goals-against column.

PAOK create around 1.75 xG per game with roughly 0.95 xGA. Maccabi Tel Aviv sit near 1.70 xG and 0.85 xGA. The expected-chances gap is slim, leaning slightly towards the hosts at Toumba.

Recent meetings are competitive and low-margin. The sides split a league-phase series in 2022 (draw in Thessaloniki, PAOK win in Tel Aviv) and played out a friendly stalemate in 2024. In 2024 qualifying, Maccabi Tel Aviv claimed a two-leg victory without conceding. Overall, small sample but with clear evidence both can control stretches of play.

Two disciplined teams with excellent structures. PAOK’s home press, set-piece edge and early surges should produce territory; Maccabi Tel Aviv’s possession game and counter management will keep this tight. Call: 1–1 draw with a tense final half-hour.

Main Pick: draw – profiles suggest a balanced contest where control phases may cancel out.