Lucescu had warned us following the previous match that the team is … exhausted, due to the series of continuous matches and the many injuries which have weakened the squad. On Saturday just 24 hours before the match, two more players were sidelined as Lefteris Lyratzis felt some discomfort in his thigh while Andrija Zivkovic was left out due to not feeling well due to a virus.

Lucas Taylor took up the position at right-back, Nelson Oliveira was given a starting berth for the first time since his return from injury, while Murg and Mitrita played in midfield.

PAOK made a strong start, aiming to impose their rhythm and pen PAS back. The hosts, for their part, closed down the spaces well and tried to take advantage of their counter-attacks.

The first important chance of the match came in the 23rd minute. And PAS found a goal with Perea after a long phase of play, but match referee Sidiropoulos canceled the goal agfter reviewing the VAR.

PAOK responded in the 45th minute, wasting a really good opportunity. Tsingaras played the ball into space down the right for Sastre , he found Mitrita in the penalty area and the Romanian fired in a shot on goal. However, Saliakas cleared the ball off the line with a backheel, and when the oncoming Oliveira tried to aim a shot goalwards on the rebound, he could only send the ball out of play.

In the second half, the Double-headed Eagle players did not seem to have neither the required composure, nor the energy and strength to create opportunities, with only a couple of headers from deep crosses to show for their efforts which were easilty dealt with by Lodygin in the PAS goal.

PAS, for their part, managed to find spaces and hit on the counter. The goal that decided the match came in the 78th minute with Snyder scoring with an outstretched boot following Peersman’s shot.

PAOK responded by penning PAS back in their own half for the remainder of the game but the visitors failed to create any serious opportunities and left Zosimades without a point.

Team lineups:

PAS Giannina (Iraklis Metaxas): Lodygin, Saliakas, Erramouspe, Kargas, Peersman, Karachalios, Stanko, Gardawksi (46′ Liasos), Snyder, Dominguez (46′ Kyrkos, 93′ Pantelakis), Perea.

PAOK (Razvan Lucescu): Paschalakis, Sastre, Varela, Mihaj, Sidcley, Tsingaras (56′ Schwab), Kurtic, Taylor (78′ Soares), Murg, Mitrita (64′ Akpom), Oliveira (56′ Colak).