The derby clash at the Toumba unfolded as expected in many ways. The lack of match practice from both sets of players resulted in a match with a slow tempo, lots of errors and few clear chances at both ends.

PAOK began more assured in the opening few minutes, but after 15 minutes Olympiacos began to find more rhythm. After 23 minutes the visitors took advantage of the only defensive error from the Dikefalos tou Vorra for the whole game and scored through Youssef El Arabi.

Abel Ferreira tried to get his players to fashion a response but the visitors shut up shop in the second half and did not allow PAOK to threaten Jose Sa’s goal.

Chances in the second half were few and far between, just one deflected shot from Fernando Varela which sailed over the crossbar, and another from Karol Swiderski right at the death which flashed narrowly over the bar. That was the last opportunity with the referee blowing the final whistle to confirm PAOK’s losing start to the Super League Play Offs.

Team lineups:

PAOK (Abel Ferreira): Paschalakis, Matos (74’ Rodrigo), Varela, Mihaj, Vierinha, Misic, Mauricio (74’ Esiti), Limnios, El Kaddouri (68’ Swiderski), Biseswar (68’ Pelkas ), Akpom (74’ Tziolis).

Olympiacos (Pedro Martins): Sa, Omar, Semedo, Ba (75’ Cisse), Tsimikas, Bouchalakis, Camara (84’ Gaspar), Guilherme, Valbuena (83’ Fortounis), Masouras (72’ Randjelovic), El Arabi (84’ Hassan).