He is PAOK’s top player in European matches played and goals scored, while also being one of the most important players in the history of the UEFA Europa League. Dimitris Salpingidis has already featured in 67 encounters in the competition, fourth in the most-matches-played list along with Israeli Walid Badir. He needs two more matches to climb to third place of the Hall Of Fame and level Walter Zenga.

The draw of the UEFA Europa League play-offs paired PAOK with Zimbru Chișinău from Moldova. The club’s official website paokfc.gr asked Salpingidis for a comment on the rival that stands in PAOK’s way towards the group stage. “We are preparing for two tough ties”, he said before adding: “We don’t know much about Zimbru and we need to study them. We have to prepare as best as we can to face them. We will do everything to clinch qualification to the group stage”.

Dimitris Salpingidis has netted 23 goals in the UEFA Europa League and features in 10th place of the competition’s all-time scorers. Should he continue to score with his usual consistency, he will get the opportunity to eventually climb to 5th place and level Shota Arveladze’s total of 27 goals.