Our Picks: Celtic face potential slip-up as fans return for Greek clash

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Our Picks: Celtic face potential slip-up as fans return for Greek clash

POAK fans in Germany last year
POAK fans in Germany last yearProfimedia, Flashscore
Celtic face a high-flying Kilmarnock side this weekend, while Millwall play the role of hosts to Sheffield Wednesday and - further into the continent - PAOK are set to welcome spectators for the first time in two months for their clash with rivals Olympiacos.

Take a look at the matches we think are worth keeping tabs on this weekend:

Millwall v Sheffield Wed - Brad Ferguson

Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall face off in south London on Saturday with both in desperate need of points as their long and disappointing seasons continue to drag on.

Despite a decent win over Birmingham a couple of weeks ago that stopped a gloomy run of form in the second tier, The Owls were back to business as usual on Tuesday night as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat away at runaway league leaders Leicester.

The state of play in England's second tier
The state of play in England's second tierFlashscore

Wednesday have struggled massively for goals this season - they’ve managed a league-low of 24 in 32 outings so far, and finishing is something boss Danny Rohl will be desperate to improve on as soon as possible.

Their struggles up top are plain to see in the form of forward Anthony Musaba - he’s their top scorer with a measly four league goals this season, but he’s not managed to find the net in his last 12 outings in all competitions.

After a tough away loss at the King Power, the last thing Wednesday will fancy is a trip to the feisty Den, especially as they’ll be facing a Millwall side who desperately need to stop their own worsening rot.

Millwall fans watch on
Millwall fans watch onProfimedia

Hopes were relatively high at the start of the season for the Lions but any positive feelings that were dimly circling about a play-off push haven’t just dissipated, they’ve pretty much imploded.

A disappointing run of six games without a win - earning just a single point - has seen Millwall tumble into the bottom four and just four points above QPR in the relegation zone.

With teams around them like Stoke and Huddersfield picking up points in midweek, this Saturday’s clash between the two strugglers is looking like a definite six-pointer that could very much set the tone for both clubs’ hopes of survival as we enter the business end of the campaign.

Celtic v Kilmarnock - Ste Carson

Kilmarnock make the short journey to Celtic this weekend at an opportune time.

The Killie are in a fine run of form, losing just once - to Rangers - and taking 19 points from their last 10 matches.

For comparison, Celtic have lost twice in the same period and picked up 22 points - bettering Kilmarnock in being able to turn battling draws into wins.

That being said, the Celts remain the most dangerous team in the Scottish Premiership and have scored 57 times in 25 games.

Kilmarnock, who have shipped 26 goals while scoring 28, need to improve defensively for their trip to Glasgow if they are to come away with something.

Man of the moment Matt O'Riley will be the 'one to watch', having already totted up 10 goals and seven assists already this term.

O'Riley is in great form
O'Riley is in great formProfimedia

Mind, both Luis Palma (five goals, nine assists) and Kyogo Furuhashi (eight goals, three assists) are enjoying great seasons too.

For Kilmarnock, Daniel Armstrong (four goals, eight assists) and Marley Watkins (eight goals, one assist) have been particularly bright.

Celtic, Rangers and, to a lesser extent, Hearts are running away in the top three spots - so points for the Killie would help strengthen their grip on being the 'leaders of the rest' in fourth.

The league leaders Celtic, however, will hope and indeed expect to avoid that as points dropped would allow their bitter rivals, Rangers, a chance to leapfrog them.

Top of the pile in Scotland
Top of the pile in ScotlandFlashscore

PAOK v Olympiacos - Anthony Paphitis

The weekend's action in Greece's Super League comes from Thessaloniki when PAOK host rivals Olympiacos with supporters back in the stands to witness the spectacle.

Games in the top flight were forced to be played without fans for two months following violence during a volleyball match in Athens, but Toumba Stadium will be packed on Sunday evening.

PAOK fans in Germany last year
PAOK fans in Germany last yearProfimedia

Table-topping PAOK have trundled along nicely so far this term but it's started to tighten at the top end with Panathinaikos and AEK Athens one and two points back respectively.

After winning each of their last seven games in all competitions, they've hit a mini blip of being held to AEK in the league then suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Panathinaikos in the Greece Cup semi-final first leg.

Still, PAOK will be looking towards their key men in Kiril Despodov, Thomas Murg, and Taison to fire them back on track against an Olympiacos side playing catch-up.

The Piraeus-based outfit are fourth in the table and seven points off their hosts and are looking for a different trajectory following the departure of manager Carlos Carvalhal earlier this month.

They've won both of their games since the Portuguese's and head into the fixture on the back of a 1-0 win over Hungarian side Ferencvaros in the Europa Conference League round of 32.

El Kaabi is in a fine run of form
El Kaabi is in a fine run of formProfimedia

Morocco striker Ayoub El Kaabi scored in both the recent wins and Olympiacos will be hopeful the 30-year-old can continue his post-Africa Cup of Nations run.

Olympiacos are unbeaten on their last five visits to PAOK with their latest trip yielding a 1-0 win in last season's championship play-off group.

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