Dynamo Kyiv vs PAOK Thessaloniki FC prediction 23.07.2026 | Europa League

Dynamo Kyiv heads into this match flying high after a gritty penalty shootout win over FC Universitatea Cluj. The Blue & Whites have some serious momentum now, having avoided defeat in seven straight competitive games.

That stretch includes four victories, like the 3-1 win against Chenihiv in the Ukrainian Cup final and a wild 3-2 comeback over Kudrivka to close out the 2025-26 league season.

Ihor Kostyuk’s squad hasn’t just been solid up front. They’ve been tough at the back too, grabbing back-to-back clean sheets in the first qualifying round. Up top, they've still got Andriy Yarmolenko leading the attack. He’s the guy for the big moments, and his calm finish from the spot secured their latest win.

But they’re not without concerns. Out wide, things are a little shaky as first-choice winger Vladyslav Kabayev has been limited to training on his own.

PAOK Thessaloniki heads into this match after a tough pre-season, capped off with a close 3–2 loss to FC Twente. They’ll be kicking off their European campaign with a new approach, thanks to head coach Alessio Lisci. He took over from Răzvan Lucescu back on June 22, 2026, so there’s a fresh vibe on the touchline.

That defeat against the Dutch side ended PAOK’s solid summer run, where they went unbeaten in seven games. Even so, their away form from last season stands out: 17 wins, 11 draws, 9 losses on the road. They’ll want to keep that up.

Andrija Živković is the man to watch. He led the team in the league last year with 10 goals and 3 assists. But they’re missing Fedor Chalov, who’s still recovering from surgery after a serious muscle injury. His absence up front definitely leaves a gap.