The days leading up to this match were intense, but it did not affect the team’s performance. The players and the coaching staff worked hard, set up their plan, followed it to the letter, and at the end of the match they were given a raputous ovation by a packed Toumba.

PAOK started the match exceptionally well. They pressed impressively in the AEK half, easily took control of possession, played some good combination play, and opened the scoring in the 14th minute with their first attempt on goal.

Konstantelias conjured up an unfathomable piece of skill to set it up. Despite having fallen to the ground, he somehow managed to juggle the ball on his foot, shoulder and then foot again to send a pass to Narey who beat AEKgoalkeeper Athanasiadis with a low, first-time shot to make it 1-0.

AEK tried to respond, but Kotarski saved Pineda’s shot in the 22nd minute, with Andrija Zivkovic then missing the target two minutes later for the hosts. In the final part of the first half, AEK took more possession of the ball but failed to threaten the home goal.

In the second half, the Double-headed Eagle once again started strongly, setting up a goal scored by Konstantelias before the first minute was even completed, but it was disallowed for offside. Lucescu’s players didn’t give the visitors any room to create chances and patiently looked for their chance to seal the victory with a second goal.

That came in the 64th minute. After an exhcange of passes down on the right touchline, Narey sent over a deep cross which Koulierakis rose to meet, and the defender beat everyone in the air to score with a powerful header.

The visitors tried to get back into the game, but the black and white defense was in excellent form, resulting in AEK only really having shots from outside the penalty area that did not find the target, apart from two good chances in the 89th and 90th minute with Kotarski make tow smart saves.

The referee’s final whistle triggered a jubilant party in the stands and on the pitch Next Saturday, PAS Ioannina at the Zosimades Stadium is the next challenge.

Team lineups: PAOK: Kotarski, Sastre, Ingason, Koulierakis, Rafa Soares, Douglas, Dantas (Schwab 81′), Narey (Taison 88′), A.Zivkovic, Konstantelias (Filipe Soares 93′), Oliveira.

AEK: Athanasiadis, Rota (Sidibe 80′), Vida, Mukudi, Hadjisafi, Szymanski, Amrabat, Pineda (Eliason 72′) Jonsson (Gacinovic 63′), Garcia (Zuber 80′), Araujo (Van Weert 80′)