PAOK fans gathered at the Nea Mesimvria training complex on Wednesday to demand qualification ahead of their UEFA Conference League play-off match against Brann.
The Greek team held their final training session at the complex outside Thessaloniki before hosting the Norwegian side in the first leg at Toumba Stadium. The play-off match is scheduled for Thursday evening, August 20, at 20:45 local time, with PAOK aiming to secure an advantage heading into the second leg of the tie.
Supporters traveled to the facility to encourage head coach Alessio Lisci and the squad just hours before the opening European fixture. A report by Greek outlet Gazzetta.gr confirmed that fans directly urged the players to secure progression into the League Phase of the competition.
Fan message and team discipline
The club's organized supporters group also issued a statement on their official Facebook page to rally the team. The group declared that they remain constantly alongside PAOK and the squad, calling on the players to bring qualification back to Thessaloniki.
Preparations for the match come alongside a disciplinary setback for the team. Winger Andrija Zivkovic was handed a two-game suspension by football authorities, ruling him out of both play-off fixtures against Brann.
Squad changes and transfer context
Lisci acknowledged the squad challenges ahead of the European tie, particularly regarding recent player departures. The manager noted that replacing a player of Giannis Konstantelias's caliber on short notice is impossible for the club.
Konstantelias developed through PAOK's youth academy before earning a lucrative move abroad. He follows other academy graduates who generated significant transfer fees for the club, including defender Konstantinos Koulierakis and winger Christos Tzolis.
Club background and competition structure
PAOK, formally known as Panhessalonikian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans, are based in Thessaloniki and play home matches at Toumba Stadium. Known as the Black-and-Whites or the Double-Headed Eagle, the club competes in the Greek Super League and European competitions.
Their opponents, SK Brann, are a Norwegian professional club based in Bergen that competes in Eliteserien. The UEFA Conference League is the third tier of European club football, where victory in the play-off round secures entry into the group-style League Phase.
The winner of the two-legged tie between PAOK and Brann will advance directly to the League Phase draw.
