Vladan Ivić’s weren’t bad nor were they lacking passion. The first half was below par for both teams, but Panionios got an opener anyway with a shot by Bakasetas in the 39th minute, after Miguel Vítor lost possession (fouled?) outside the box. Bakasetas also had a direct free-kick hit the woodwork.

PAOK equalized after the interval (52’) with a swift header by Alexandros Tziolis and kept pushing for the three points. But they conceded another goal by Bakasetas against the run of play with a thunderous long-range strike. The “Double-Headed Eagle” tried to react and had a shot on post with Nikos Korovesis in the 74th minute. However, Panionios’s third goal with an individual move by Karim Ansarifard eight minutes later killed all hope for a comeback, despite Garry Rodrigues’s shot on post in stoppage time.

PAOK had 63% ball possession, 14 goal attempts (Panionios had 8), but they lacked accuracy compared to their rivals. Now the “Double-Headed Eagle” need two victories in their last two encounters –and with the point-deduction verdict pending– to secure a top-five finish and play-off participation.

Line-ups:

Panionios: Dioudis, Τasoulis, Κorbos, Ikonomou, Siopis, Patsatzoglou, Vlachos, Κaramanos (90+1′ Argyropoulos), Μasouras (87′ Chalkiadakis), Κatharios (66′ Ansarifard), Bakasetas.

PΑΟΚ: Vellidis, Κitsiou, Vítor, Τzavellas, Leovac, Τziolis, Charisis (46′ Rodrigues), Κorovesis (75′ Golasa), Κace (89′ Antonis), Pelkas , Αthanasiadis.