- PAOK Thessaloniki (W) are red-hot after a 3-1 win over Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem that extended their unbeaten run.
- Neftci Baku (W) come into this game with a confidence boost after holding Buducnost to a 0-0 draw and then winning the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final tie 4-3 on penalties.
Greeks have the experience and edge for one-and-done clash
PAOK Thessaloniki (W) and Neftci Baku (W) meet for the first time in a competitive fixture on Saturday with a UEFA Women's Champions League qualification final spot at stake. The Veria Municipal Stadium will be an intimidating setting for the visitors, but the winner will go on to play in the second qualifying round in 2026-27.
The hosts are the overwhelming favourites at 1.32 to go through, with the draw at 5.3 and Neftci's price of 7.8 suggesting that the bookies know the difference between these sides, but think the visitors have a chance.
Our view is similar, but a home win does look inevitable and the difference between the sides is better reflected in the price for a home victory to nil and a 2-1 win in 90 minutes. PAOK's price is short, but they are a better side and should be getting the better of this game in every aspect. The one thing Neftci's penalty shootout win over Buducnost in the UWCL semi-final shows is that this won't be a cakewalk for the Greeks, who will need to keep their feet on the ground.
PAOK’s press and pace should see them through
Athanasios Patrikidis' PAOK side will stretch the play wide and press the ball hard, while Siyasat Asgarov has his Neftci side drilled into a compact, pragmatic unit that will look to stay in shape, use their set pieces and counter-attack effectively.
That should ensure the home side have most of the ball, but it may not guarantee many goals as Neftci will look to punish any lapse in concentration or set piece error that they get from the hosts.
The Greeks are playing at a higher level than Neftci, however, and should have the legs to wear their opponents down and grab a goal or two.
Greeks have the individuals to make the big plays
Minela Gačanica is PAOK's star player and the best bet to get the opening goal on Saturday. The Bosnian scored 23 league goals in 2025-26 for the Thessaloniki club and got a goal in their UWCL qualifying win over Hapoel.
Maria Mitkou is the glue that holds the PAOK midfield together, providing the control and vision to feed the likes of Gačanica, while Neftci's star attacker is Khanim Asadova, who was named AFFA's best player of the season.
Both sides come into this clash in good form - PAOK with a 6-0 league win over NPS Volos and a 2-0 Greek Women's Cup final success over Asteras Tripolis and a 3-1 UWCL semi-final win over Hapoel, and Neftci with a title charge and shootout win over the Montenegrins.
That 89-4 record of PAOK's in the league screams control as they swept all before them to complete the domestic double, so our first selection will be PAOK to win to nil. However, Neftci's grit and determination in that shootout and throughout a long season suggests they will not allow this to become a drubbing and so a 2-1 victory for the home team is the preferred correct score prediction.
