PAOK will face AFC Ajax in the 3rd qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, the two teams having met at this stage of the competition also in the summer of 2010. AFC Ajax had secured qualification back then after 180 minutes of breathtaking action. PAOK escaped from Amsterdam with a 1-1 draw, with Vladan Ivić on the scorers’ sheet. In the second leg, Vieirinha gave the Thessaloniki outfit the lead in the first half. The Dutch side stormed off the blocks after the interval and scored three goals in seven minutes. Our team put on a brave fight and equalized 3-3 through Salpingidis and Ivić, but missed out on qualification on the away goal rule.

The first leg will be held in Amsterdam Arena on 26 or 27 July and the second leg in Toumba Stadium on 2 or 3 August.