The Doubled-headed Eagle of the North went in front on two occasions, missed a penalty as well as some great scoring chances, and in the end had to make do with a draw, while AEK, with the few opportunities the Athens club created, managed to steal a point.

Abel Ferreira selected Zivkovic between the posts, Rodrigo in place of Matos and El Kaddouri in injured Dimitris Pelkas’ position, while Biseswar supported Swiderskiwho started ahead of Akpom.

The Portuguese coach’s plan worked flawlessly for the first half-hour when it seemed like there was only one team on the pitch. PAOK played some exceptional football. Swiderski scored the opening goal from Limnios’ brilliant assist, but then PAOK missed a penalty with Biseswar finding the woodwork after AEK’s Bakakis handballed, while Biseswar, Swiderski and Douglas all wasted good chances to doubled the advantage.

In the closing minutes of the first half, AEK managed to find their feet and played their way back into the game, but without getting on the scoresheet and the teams went into the dressing rooms at half-time with PAOK 1-0 ahead.

The home side started the second half strongly and in the 54th minute they pulled level from a set-piece with Chygrynskiy scoring from Livaja’s delivery.

PAOK’s response was immediate and a move involving Biseswar, Limnios and Swiderski in the 58th minute ended with the Polish striker putting PAOK ahead again.

AEK had the ball in the net ater 64 minutes but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review. But AEK continued to press for an equalizer which they got in the 79th minute through Deletic, however that goal came from a move which initiated from what was a foul on Douglas.

In the final 10 minutes PAOK upped the tempo of the game and missed three great chances to get the win. Two of those were missed by Akpom, and one from Crespo, but  [AEK keeper] Barkas was determined to keep PAOK out and help his team hang on for a point.

There was a big moment in the 88th minute added time when Mauricio came on for Biseswar in what was the Brazilian’s first appearance after six months on the sidelines through injury.

Team lineups:

ΑΕΚ (Nikos Kostenoglou): Barkas, Vranjes, Chygrynskiy, Bakakis, Paulinho (46′ Giakoumakis), Krstičić, Galanopoulos, Lopes, Mantalos (85′ Klonaridis), Alpanis (46′ Deletic), Livaja.

PAOK: (Abel Ferreira): Zivkovic, Rodrigo, Varela, Crespo, Giannoulis, Douglas, Misic, Limnios (77′ Jaba), El Kaddouri, Biseswar, (88′ Mauricio), Swiderski (64′ Akpom).