Excellent news for Răzvan Lucescu! PAOK could go straight to the Champions League. 35 million euros are at stake
PAOK can go straight into the Champions League groups, but only if a few important conditions are met. Răzvan Lucescu's team must, first of all, win the title in Greece.
Răzvan Lucescu Photo/Instagram
At the same time, the qualification also depends on a UEFA mechanism that redistributes the remaining free places, according to the coefficient of the teams. Basically, PAOK needs other clubs, better ranked in this ranking, not to fulfill their objectives and not to take advantage of these positions.
“The plan is simple in theory, but complicated in practice!”
Although it was eliminated from the Europa League, the stakes remain huge for the Greeks: if they emerge champions and are advantaged by this system, they can avoid the preliminaries and collect more than 35 million euros. Currently, PAOK is 6th in the coefficients hierarchy, so it also depends on the results of other teams to grab a direct place.
“The plan is simple in theory but complicated in practice: PAOK aim to overcome the five above them. Rangers, Shakhtar Donetsk, Ferencvaros, Midtjylland: these four teams are the big enemies.
For Răzvan Lucescu to be able to smile at the end, none of these must win the championship in his country! The stakes of winning the Super League have never been higher. In a three-way tie with Olympiakos and AEK, the Greek champions ensure – at worst – their presence in the playoffs of the most important competition!“wrote those from Sportdog.
The situation in the championships that matters for PAOK's chances looks like this:
- Scotland: The battle is very close, with Hearts in first place, closely followed by Celtic and Rangers;
- Ukraine: Shakhtior has a 3-point advantage at the top of the standings, with many stages still to play;
- Denmark: Midtjylland are in pursuit of the leader, at a difference of 5 points;
- Hungary: Ferencvaros is in second place, very close to first place, just one point behind.
“Direct qualification to the league stage not only offers glory, but also a bonus exceeding 30-35 million euros immediately. In addition, the team escapes the attrition process of the preliminaries in the middle of the summer, allowing a quiet planning for the new season. PAOK now play in five stadiums simultaneously.
It is the first time that the Greek championship is so directly linked to the fate of Midtjylland and Ferencvaros. Lucescu knows that the key is in Toumba, but a prayer for Shakhtior to lose the title never hurts!“the cited source also transmitted.
