Razvan Lucescu made several changes in comparison to Thursday’s European clash at the Toumba, giving starting berths to Mihaj, Varela, Schwab, Soares, Mitrita, and Sastre , while the injured Vieirinha was replaced by Sidcley, with the team’s formation and tactics remaining the same.

PAOK began strongly in the first 10 minutes, tried to take control of the match, and managed to move the ball around well, while they threatened through A. Zivkovic in the sixth minute, although the Serb could not find the net. Aris gradually raised their performance and the game began to balance itself out thereafter.

After 16 minutes, Paschalakis saved a shot by M’Bakata, sending the ball out for a corner. And it was from the subsequent flag-kick that Aris got their goal with a header by Doukoure.

PAOK tried to respond and there were two efforts on goal from Schwab that failed to find the target, while Akpom fired in a powerful diagonal shot at the end of the first half which Cuesta saving well from the Englishman.

In the second 45 minutes, PAOK once again came out in determined mood, winning most of the duels and the second balls, while they also pushed higher up the pitch to put pressure on the hosts.

In the 50th minute, Mihaj fired in a shot from close range which took a delection off Kamara and went out for a corner, while Kurtic threatened with a header, but he sent the ball wide.

Aris responded to the opportunities in the 59th minute with a direct free-kick taken by Matilla that was blocked by Paschalakis, while in the 64th minute the PAOK goalkeeper also saved an effort from Gama.

The phase that largely judged the outcome of the match came in the 70th minute, when Mihaj was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Kamara, which left PAOK with 10 players for the remaining 20 minutes.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Lucescu’s team did not give up the game and they fought until the last second for a draw, but without a clear head when they got to the final pass.

The biggest opportunity for the Double-headed Eagle came in the 86th minute, when Nelson Oliveira, who returned to the team after his lengthy spell out due to a knee injury suffered last August, powered in a shot from distance, but the ball flashed just over Cuesta’s crossbar.

PAOK now turn their attention to the upcoming first leg of their Greek Cup semi-final against Olympiacos at the Toumba on Thursday (21.04, 19:30).

Team lineups:

Aris (Herman Burgos): Cuesta, M’Bakata, Fabiano, Brabec, Ganea, Matilla, Doukoure, Mancini (78′ Garcia), Iturbe (59′ Gama), Palma (59′ Ndiaye), Kamara (78′ Benalouane).

PAOK (Razvan Lucescu): Paschalakis, Sastre (74′ Taylor), Varela, Mihaj, Sidcley, Schwab (46′ Augusto), Kurtic, Soares (60′ Biseswar), A. Zivkovic, Akpom (79′ Oliveira), Mitrita (74′ Igason).