PAOK went to Charilaou looking to get all three points and this was evident from the start. With the only difference in the starting XI versus last time out being the presence of Lyratzis instead of Vieirinha at right-back, the Double-headed Eagle entered the pitch in determined mood, and the visitors were the first team to threaten just 50 seconds into the match, with Narey seeing his shot deflect off a defender and flash wide.

Razvan Lucescu’s side dominated possession, pressed high up the pitch and recovered possession consistently well, while also not allowing the hosts to threaten much. The best moments of the match in the first half came at 27′ and 35′ minutes respectively.

Initially, Douglas headed headed wide off the target from Narey’s cross, while seven minutes later PAOKgoalkeeper Kotarski saved Mancini’s shot from distance. The teams disappeared down the tunnel with the scoreline 0-0 at half-time.

In the second half, PAOK were again the first to threaten, missing an incredible opportunity in the 49th minute. A. Živković got into the penalty area and squared the ball across for Brandon Thomas, but the Spaniard’s prodded effort was brilliantly tipped wide by Cuesta in the Aris goal.

Two minutes later came the home team’s biggest chance. M’Bakata won a penalty from Koulierakis’ challenge, but Kotarski thwarted Gray’s spot-kick with an impressive save. The hosts had another good moment a minute later with a shot from Manu Garcia, which was again stopped by Kotarski .

In the last half hour of the match, the heavens opened as a storm broke out in Thessaloniki which made the efforts of both sets of players difficult. In the 75th minute Biseswar threatened with a shot from a distance, but Cuesta was on hand to save the Surinam midfielder’s effort. Camacho headed off target just before 90 minutes, while two further attempts on goal by Oliveira and Narey for PAOK were blocked by Aris defenders.

The score did not change then up to match referee Godino’s final whistle, with PAOK dropping their first points of the season at the «Kleanthis Vikelidis» but remaining unbeaten on seven points from the first three league games.

The next challenge for the Double-headed Eagle is a home game against Lamia next Monday (12.09) at 19:00.

Team lineups:

Aris (Apostolos Terzis): Cuesta, M’Bakata, Fabiano, Brambec, Mazikou, Doukoure, Diop (Dabo 46′), Manu Garcia (Iturbe 69′), Mateo Garcia (Gervinho 81′), Mancini (Camazzo 81′), Gray ( Palma 64′)

PAOK (Razvan Lucescu): Kotarski, Lyratzis, Ingason, Koulierakis, Tsaousis (Vieirinha 59′), Dantas (Biseswar 59′), Kurtic, Douglas, Narey, A. Zivkovic, Brandon (Oliveira 63′).