PAOK Thessaloniki and Dynamo Kyiv meet on July 30, 2026, for the second leg of their Europa League contest after an eventful opening encounter. PAOK hold a narrow advantage following their 3-2 victory on July 23, when five goals were shared in Lublin. The one-goal margin leaves the tie open: the hosts have something to protect, but Dynamo Kyiv must score to keep their hopes alive. That combination could create an intriguing return match, with PAOK balancing control against the opportunity to exploit the spaces left by their visitors. The supplied Europa League ranking lists PAOK as number one and Dynamo Kyiv as number two, while the recent statistics also give the home side the stronger overall form entering this fixture.

PAOK Thessaloniki Recent Form and Key Statistics

PAOK arrive with the advantage after scoring three times through three different players in the first leg. That result continued a productive recent run in which they have recorded four wins and one defeat across their last five matches. Their average during that period stands at 3.2 goals scored and 1.6 conceded per game, highlighting both their attacking output and the opportunities opponents have still been able to create.

Their current Europa League figures show one win from one match, with an average of 3.0 goals scored and 2.0 conceded. Those numbers reflect the open nature of the first meeting: PAOK had enough attacking quality to establish an aggregate lead, but they were unable to keep Dynamo Kyiv off the scoresheet. Home advantage at the Toumba now gives the Double-headed Eagle a potentially valuable platform, although defending a one-goal cushion for an entire match would carry clear risk.

Several longer-term trends also shape the PAOK Thessaloniki vs Dynamo Kyiv preview. At least one second-half goal has been recorded in each of PAOK’s last 10 Europa League matches, indicating that their European fixtures have continued to produce action after the interval. PAOK have also avoided going into half-time behind in 21 of their last 23 matches. Meanwhile, four of their last 17 overall games ended with under 0.5 total goals, as did four of their last 19 home fixtures. In Europa League home matches, that scoreless total occurred in three of the last 14.

Dynamo Kyiv Recent Form and Key Statistics

Dynamo Kyiv travel after suffering a 3-2 defeat in the first leg, but their two goals ensure the contest remains within reach. Ihor Kostyuk’s side made an immediate impact in Lublin, with Volodymyr Brazhko scoring inside the opening three minutes, before Dynamo struck again in the 77th minute. Their ability to find the net twice against PAOK is important context as they prepare for a return game in which caution alone will not be enough.

Matviy Ponomarenko, who scored 13 goals to finish as the Ukrainian Premier League’s leading scorer last season, started the opening match without contributing to its five goals. Dynamo nevertheless demonstrated that their attacking threat is not dependent on a single player. Their challenge in the second leg is to reproduce that scoring output while limiting a PAOK side that has averaged more than three goals per match across its latest five fixtures.

Dynamo Kyiv’s last-five record contains two wins, two draws and one defeat, alongside averages of 1.6 goals scored and 1.0 conceded. Their listed Europa League season record is no wins, two draws and one loss, with averages of 0.7 goals for and 1.0 against. There are also notable first-half trends: Dynamo have failed to win at half-time in 22 of their last 23 Europa League matches, while they have been behind at the interval in six of their last 10 away games in the competition.

Their overall scoring data presents a mixed picture. Three of Dynamo Kyiv’s last 10 matches finished with under 0.5 total goals, while that outcome appeared in two of their last 10 Europa League fixtures and two of their previous 10 away matches. However, the immediate evidence from this particular matchup is considerably more open, with Dynamo scoring twice and conceding three in the first leg.

PAOK Thessaloniki vs Dynamo Kyiv Second-Leg Analysis

The central question is how PAOK choose to handle their narrow lead. They do not need to chase the match from the opening whistle, and a measured approach could help them prevent Dynamo from building momentum. However, the hosts’ recent numbers are associated with high scoring as well as regular concessions. Attempting only to defend the advantage could invite pressure from a visiting team with no option but to pursue goals.

For Dynamo Kyiv, the situation is more direct. Their 3-2 deficit means they must offer a greater attacking threat as the match develops. Scoring in the third minute of the first leg showed that they can begin quickly, while their later goal demonstrated that they remained dangerous deep into the contest. Committing more players forward may improve their chance of reducing the aggregate deficit, but it could also provide PAOK with opportunities at the opposite end.

The previous meeting is the only supplied head-to-head result, giving PAOK a record of one win, no draws and no defeats against Dynamo Kyiv, with averages of three goals scored and two conceded. It therefore provides a clear but limited reference point. PAOK’s stronger recent record and home advantage support their position, whereas Dynamo’s two first-leg goals prevent any assumption that the return will be straightforward. With one team protecting a slender lead and the other required to respond, the second leg should be shaped by the tension between PAOK’s game management and Dynamo Kyiv’s need for attacking urgency.