Indeed, the smiles when the players first stepped out onto the training ground soon stopped when Razvan Lucsescu’s whistle was heard, because PAOK still have two very difficult games ahead before the net international break. The first match is a vital one against Copenhagen, and it’s a match which offers PAOK the chance to give themselves an even healthier safety margin in top spot in their Europa Conference League group, in order to ensure that the Double-headed Eagle can determine their own fate in the competition.

There is a lot of work required to make this a reality, with little room to make any mistakes, while luck and concentration will also be needed. The first aspect was what the players set to work on in Monday’s training, which was focused on fitness exercises with a ball, and then there were some possession and passing drills played within limited spaces, with some elements of tactics involved.

The players who played in the starting XI against Apollon followed a special recovery program, while Oliveira, Sidcley, and Mitrita continued their individual injury recovery programs.

On Tuesday (02.11) PAOK will train at 10:30 at the Nea Mesimvria sports center.