Aberdeen

Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland in Thessaloniki

The European adventure – particularly the rigours of group stage football – was always going to provide Aberdeen with a stern challenge.

That posed by PAOK was of the sternest variety.

Tonight the Dons stood up to that challenge, and some. They were under the cosh for large spells, but they had guts and character in abundance.

Barry Robson will have been left in no doubt that his players have given everything for the cause.

However, despite a valiant performance – and a more than creditable result - the harsh reality is that his side’s hopes of Conference League progress are now over.

But Robson will be hoping that the lessons learned equate to experience gained, experience that will ultimately hold them in good stead going forward, following what they hope will not be a one-off group experience.

Nicky Devlin exemplified Aberdeen's work-rate in defence and ability to foray forward when afforded the chance.

He'll be key as Aberdeen attempt to be back in Europe next year.

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Two changes for Aberdeen following Saturday's semi-final success.

One of the switches is a big one as Bojan Miovski drops to the bench and is replaced by Duk.

A knock or a rest for the Dons' main man?

The final change sees teenager midfielder Ryan Duncan come in for Leighton Clarkson.

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PAOK: Kotarski, Vieirinha, Troost-Ekong, Koulierakis, Baba, Tsingaras, Schwab, Despodov, Konstantelias, Taison, Brandon.

Substitutes: Z Zivkovic, Michailidis, Meite, Murg, A Zivkovic, Kedziora, Lyratzis, Ozdoev, Vrakas, Samatta, Rafa Soares, Tzimas.

Aberdeen: Roos, Devlin, Rubezic, Gartenmann, Jensen, MacKenzie, Duncan, Shinnie, Barron, McGrath, Duk.

Substitutes: Doohan, Miovski, Clarkson, Gueye, Hayes, Williams, Sokler, Polvara, MacDonald. Milne, Dadia, Marshall.

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Leighton Clarkson aims to step up his search for top form by helping Aberdeen stun PAOK in an atmosphere he expects to be the best of the group.

Playmaker Clarkson has struggled to match his impressive performances on loan last season since returning to Pittodrie on a permanent deal in the summer.

However, his return to the team has coincided with back-to-back victories over Motherwell and Hibs and he now wants to avenge the Dons’ 3-2 home defeat by PAOK.

The midfielder is particularly heartened by the way he played in last Wednesday's 4-2 league win at Fir Park.

"I'm a player who likes to get a lot of touches of the ball and I felt that day I managed to get control of the game and we almost passed them off the park in the first half, which is something we've probably not done all season," he told RedTV.

"I felt really good about myself and I want to keep kicking on from that and help the lads with goals and assists because I've not done that as much as I'd have liked to.

"This season teams are trying to nullify me. I've just got to find a way of being better than that and finding a way to deal with it so I can help the team."

Aberdeen, who have one point from their three group games, led 2-0 at home to PAOK last time out before collapsing to a 3-2 defeat in the closing stages.

“We were all gutted afterwards because we felt really comfortable,” said Clarkson.

"They're a really good side but we also know we can hurt them. We need to stay in the game for as long as possible, it's just about cutting out mistakes because the big teams punish you.

"The European games have all been massive games in big stadiums, with great atmospheres and I'm sure PAOK will probably be the best (atmosphere) of the lot, so we're all really excited about going out there and playing our game, but we're going out there to try and win."

Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland in Thessaloniki

The morning after the night before for those members of the Red Army brave enough to get up early and enjoy some of the sights, and sun, of Thessaloniki.

I caught up with a few of them to get their thoughts on tonight's game and the general consensus was it will need a level of performance similar to the one that gave Eintracht Frankfurt such a scare.

But there was split opinion over how Aberdeen should treat their remaining European games. Some are of the view that it is an opportunity to give key players a break with forthcoming domestic challenges in mind.

But others felt, having worked so hard to get into the group stages, they should continue to go full tilt at it.

Oh, and by the way, the controversy over the allocation of tickets for next month's League Cup final got the response you would expect.

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Aberdeen manager Barry Robson insists "nobody will change my mind" that his side haven’t got what they deserve in Europe this season, but says they have to continue "to believe".

The Dons continue their Conference League group with a daunting trip to play Greek Super League side PAOK on Thursday night, having taken just one point from three games so far.

“We have performed really well in Europe, I think everyone would agree with that," Robson said.

"We never got the results we deserved and nobody will change my mind on that, but obviously we wanted to have more points but the most important thing is we keep going and every game is important to us.’

"We are here to try and perform the way we have performed in our other European games and if we do that, we have got an opportunity.

"We know that is difficult , the quality that we are against, but we are here, we have got to believe that is what we want to do."

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• It is almost 16 years since Aberdeen last won in European group-stage football; Jamie Smith’s stunning double saw them beat Copenhagen 4-0 in December 2007.

• PAOK have lost only three of their 20 matches in all competitions this term. After emphatic aggregate wins over Beitar Jerusalem (4-1), Hajduk Split (3-0) and Aberdeen’s Premiership rivals Hearts (6-1) to qualify for the Conference League, the Greeks have won their first three group games, including a 3-2 win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

• Andrija Zivkovic is PAOK’s top goal scorer in Europe this season with four goals. Brandon, Konstantinos Koulierakis and Stefan Schwab have three goals each, while Giannis Konstantelias, Taison and Kiril Despodov have netted twice.

• PAOK have been regulars in Europe since their first appearance in the Fairs Cup in 1965/66. They have made it through the groups and into the Europa League’s last 32 on four occasions since the 2010/11 campaign.

Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

Aberdeen manager Barry Robson has been talking to the media before his side's Europa Conference League clash with PAOK tomorrow.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Robson wouldn't be drawn into a conversation about Aberdeen's ticket allocation for the Viaplay Cup final, instead choosing to focus on the PAOK game.

• When asked if he might rest players with so many big domestic games approaching, Robson said that they "want to win every game", but they "do have to manage players as best we can".

• Insists that Aberdeen "have not got the results we deserved" in Europe so far this season. "Nobody can change my mind about that."

• Admits it will be a tough test for him and his players in Thessaloniki, but says they "have got to believe".

• Robson didn't get drawn into a war of words with PAOK head coach Razvan Lucescu, who earlier criticised Nicky Devlin's celebrations in the game at Pittodrie. Robson said it was the first he had heard of it, and added he has "a lot of respect" for Lucescu and PAOK.

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PAOK manager Razvan Lucescu has criticised Aberdeen defender Nicky Devlin for their nature of his celebrations during the Greek side's 3-2 win at Pittodrie last month.

When Dante Polvara put the Dons 2-0 in front on the night, Lucescu says that Devlin blew a kiss in the direction of the PAOK bench, and warned that "arrogance" has a way of coming back to haunt you.

"In life, but especially in football, when you are arrogant you pay immediately.

“In the game [at Pittodrie] Aberdeen scored their second goal and in that moment their number two, Mr. Devlin, came in front of me making like this,” Lucescu said, blowing a kiss.

“It finished 3-2 for us. I didn’t see it in the game but the people around me, my coaches, told me the story.

“When I told our group what happened, they were a little bit surprised. I’m happy I didn’t see it in the moment, because I don’t know how I would have reacted.”

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BBC Scotland pundit Rory Loy says that Aberdeen will be out for revenge when they face PAOK in the Conference League on Thursday.

Barry Robson's side were 2-0 up against the Greek side in October, but conceded three goals in the final 17 minutes to lose 3-2.

"I think it'll be a case for Barry Robson and his side wanting to put right what happened at Pittodrie a couple of weeks ago," Loy said.

"There's still an outside chance they could qualify, so I don't think it's time to ring the changes. Get your best players on the pitch and see if they can get you in a position to win the game.

"Maybe [the game at Pittodrie] opened up PAOK's eyes to just how good Aberdeen can be. They will be keen to top the group, and know now that Aberdeen can cause a threat - both teams will want to start quickly."

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Aberdeen travel to Greece to face PAOK in a must-win Conference League clash on Thursday.

Would you make changes to the side that started against Hibs in the Viaplay Cup semi-final win?

Put yourself in Barry Robson’s shoes and pick your starting XI here.