PAOK cleared the first hurdle, made it out of the group stage and are now awaiting to find out their rival in the “last 32” stage of the UEFA Europa League. The encounters will be held in mid-February, but the draw is scheduled for Monday 12 December. Here are the potential rivals of the “Two-Headed Eagle”:

15 teams. The four best third-placed teams of the UEFA Champions League group stage and the group winners of the UEFA Europa League, apart from ACF Fiorentina. Fifteen destinations. Historic clubs, old foes, some surprise packages and some welcome opportunities for PAOK to get… revenge.

Let’s start with the clubs who transferred from the UEFA Champions League and got a second chance for European football this season. It’s Robin Olsen’s FC København and Tottenham Hotspur, who bring PAOK some very pleasurable memories. It’s also Olympique Lyonnais and Beşiktaş JK, who have never crossed paths with the “Two-Headed Eagle” in the past in official encounters.

Among the UEFA Europa League group winners, four teams have played against PAOK in the past. Shakhtar Donetsk met our team in the “hybrid” group stage of the 2005-06 UEFA Cup. Fenerbahçe SK were eliminated by PAOK in the UEFA Europa League play-offs of 2010-11. FC Schalke 04 prevailed over PAOK in the UEFA Champions League play-offs of 2013-14. As for AFC Ajax, they faced the “Two-Headed Eagle” in the UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round of 2010-11 and in the current season and qualified in both sets of ties.

The list of PAOK’s potential rivals also features in-form AS Roma, Róbert Mak’s FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, AS Saint-Étienne whose spectacular comeback in Anderlecht’s home ground saw them clinch first place on the final day of the group stage, APOEL who defeated Olympiacos twice and won their group and AC Sparta Praha who were impressive once again in the group stage. There is also Osmanlıspor FK, who sprung the biggest surprise of the current competition confining Villarreal to second place of their group and eliminating FC Steaua București.

Group F was the last to be decided, as the encounter between US Sassuolo Calcio and KRC Genk was played on Friday, due to intense fog on the previous day. The Belgian outfit prevailed 2-0 and finished at the top of the standings, leaving Athletic Club in second place.