PAOK played a 1-1 draw in their training match against Mladost Lučani on Friday, held behind closed doors at Toumba Stadium. Christian Noboa provided his first assist and played all 90 minutes, as did Sotiris Papagiannopoulos. Angelos Anastasiadis gave playing time to footballers who hadn’t recorded that much playing time so far this season, in order to assess their form.

The “Double-Headed Eagle” kept control of proceedings throughout the encounter, while the Serbian outfit contented themselves in a passive role. However they managed to convert the only decent chance they created.

Angelos Anastasiadis fielded a 4-3-3 formation and PAOK played the ball around comfortably with Noboa deployed as right interior midfielder, taking the initiative to launch attacks from the axis. The 29-year old Ecuadorian international created the home side’s only goal, as he stormed into the box and cut the ball back to Efthymis Koulouris who headed it for the opener after 8 minutes of play.

PAOK kept pushing for a second from the axis and the flanks, came close with a direct free kick by Răzvan Raț, but could not find their way past Mladost Lučani’s defence. As for the visitors, they failed to create dangerous situations for PAOK’s back four, consisting of Raț, Pouggouras, Papagiannopoulos and Kitsiou.

In the second half, Pozatzidis took Raț’s place in the left side of the defence, Konstantinidis substituted Pozoglou and Kitsiou advanced his position on the right flank. PAOK remained in command, had scoring opportunities with Koulouris and Savvidis, but the ball just wouldn’t go in. Four minutes from time, Saša Jovanović burst in counterattack, caught PAOK’s defence napping and sent the ball past Koutoglidis to seal the 1-1 draw.

Regarding the newcomers, Papagiannopoulos was defensively consistent, also helping the team by going forward when given the opportunity. Noboa may not be in full form physically, but he transmits his calmness in midfield, distributes the ball accurately, takes the initiative, proving that he can add to PAOK’s game.

PΑΟΚ: Itandje (50’ Koutoglidis), Raț (46’ (Pozatzidis), Papagiannopoulos, Pouggouras, Kitsiou (72’ Skondras), Noboa, Kace, Maduro, Pozoglou (46’ Konstantinidis), Savvidis (79’ Kusta), Koulouris (79’ Tsolakidis)

Mladost Lučani: Krznarić, Tešić, Nenadić, Otasević, Golemić, Gavrić, Radin (87’ Jagodić), S.Jovanović (83΄Prodić), Adamović (89’ Ahčin), Milosavljević (90’ Gašić), Živadinović (70’ Jovanović)