Paksi vs Polissya Zhytomyr: Europa Conference League Qualification Prediction (14.08.2025)

Get ready! Paksi FC will host Polissya Zhytomyr in the second leg of the Europa Conference League 2025/2026 Qualification semifinal on Thursday, 14 August 2025, 17:00 UTC.

Bookmakers are giving only a slight edge to Paksi as the host for this crucial second leg. Let’s review both teams’ recent form and our match prediction.

Paksi

Paksi started the new season with a largely unchanged squad from last year, retaining a key characteristic: they frequently concede. Their European journey began in the Europa League qualifiers, where they were eliminated by CFR Cluj (0-3 aggregate). The Hungarian side then dropped to the Conference League, defeating Maribor 2-1 on aggregate (1-0 home win, 1-1 away draw).

While Paksi’s attack can be sharp, defensive errors often undermine their efforts. This was evident in their domestic league opener: they scored three goals but also conceded three despite leading Győr by three goals. A convincing 5-1 win over newcomers Kisvárda followed, yet again, they failed to keep a clean sheet.

Polissya Zhytomyr

Many analysts predicted the Ukrainian Wolves would struggle against Paksi after an unconvincing start to qualifying. Concerns arose when they suffered a surprise 1-2 “home” defeat (played at a neutral venue) against Andorran minnows FC Santa Coloma. However, Serhiy Rotań’s squad staged a remarkable comeback in the second leg, securing a confident 4-1 victory.

Their emphatic 3-0 win over Paksi in the first leg was a pleasant surprise for supporters, especially as both teams were initially considered evenly matched.

Head-to-Head & Statistics

Last week’s first leg showcased Polissya’s utter dominance. The 3-0 scoreline accurately reflected the match flow, with the Ukrainian side controlling possession (57%) and attempting more shots (14 vs. Paksi’s 2). Crucially, Polissya were far more clinical: eight of their shots were on target, while Paksi managed just two.

Prediction

For the second leg, we predict a low-scoring affair (under 2.5 goals). Polissya defended solidly in the first leg and are well-positioned to adopt a counter-attacking approach, absorbing pressure and disrupting Paksi’s rhythm.

Protecting their significant aggregate lead will be Polissya’s top priority.

Recommended bet: under 2.5 goals @ 1.72.