THESSALONIKI, Greece (Interstat) — PAOK delivered a commanding performance to defeat Real Betis Balompié 2-0 in UEFA Europa League play on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at a raucous Stadio Toumbas, defying a pregame statistical projection that heavily favored the Spanish side.

The Greek club, playing as the home team, controlled the match for long periods and secured a vital victory in group stage play. The result was built on a dominant second-half display, with midfielder Andrija Živković at the heart of both goals.

The match’s pivotal moment arrived in the 67th minute, breaking a tense deadlock. Živković, who was influential throughout, found the net to give PAOK a 1-0 lead. He then turned provider just minutes later, assisting on a goal by forward Giorgos Giakoumakis to double the advantage and effectively seal the match. The assists on the two goals were credited to Dimitris Pelkas and Magomed Ozdoev, respectively.

The game was a physical contest, reflected in six yellow cards issued by the officiating crew. PAOK’s Pelkas was booked in the 26th minute, followed by Betis substitute Sergi Altimira in the 44th. Ozdoev of PAOK saw a yellow in the 51st minute. A flurry of disciplinary action came in the 85th minute, with cards shown to PAOK’s Živković and Giannis Michailidis, alongside Betis substitute Pau López.

The loss marked a rare misstep for Real Betis Balompié in this competition, altering their strong seasonal record in Europa League play. They entered the match having lost only once in their previous six group stage fixtures. For PAOK, the victory provided a significant boost to their European campaign, adding a notable scalp to a season of mixed results across domestic and continental fixtures.

The outcome stood in stark contrast to the pregame analytics from Interstat. The organization’s game simulator had projected a 1-0 victory for Real Betis Balompié, while its ELO rating system gave PAOK a 95.50 percent probability to win, a forecast that ultimately proved accurate on the pitch.

Real Betis Balompié will look to rebound quickly in European competition when they host Feyenoord on Thursday, Jan. 29. PAOK faces a busy schedule, with a domestic match against Kampan Chalastras on Saturday, Jan. 24, before a crucial return Europa League fixture away to Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday, Jan. 29.