The encounter started with a problem for Razvan Lucescu as Joan Sastre was ruled out due to a virus. The Romanian coach gave a starting shirt to Andre Vieirinha, while he also handed starts to Narey, A.Zivkovic and Konstantelias playing behind Oliveira.

The first half was an attacking monologue from PAOK, with Giannis Konstantelias taking on the role of chief orchestrator of the black and white attack. Oliveira, in just in the second minute, Douglas in the eighth minute, and Konstantelias in the 17th minute fired the warning shots, before the Portuguese forward provided the solution to score the opening goal in the 23rd minute.

Mr.Breeze produced a wonderful piece of skill to unlock the opposing defense and teed up Oliveira, who scored with a perfectly placed effort to make it 1-0 to PAOK. The phase was also examined by VAR as the assistant referee had chalked off the goal initially, but after the intervention of the technology, match referee Koutsiavtis pointed to the centre circle to indicate a goal.

The goal gave even more confidence to the PAOK players, who had two further good chances before the end of the first half via Konstantelias , who saw Gianniotis save his effort, while Rafa Soares hit the crossbar with a shot, and then Narey fired an effort off target. It remained 1-0 to PAOK heading into half-time, with Kotarski saving Fridjonsson’s 44th-minute shot at the other end, which was the hosts’ only chance in the first 45 minutes.

In the second half, the pattern of the match did not change. Atromitos tried to spring a surprise with Rotariou in the 53rd minute, but the Romanian did not find the target and immediately PAOK then took control and started to threaten.

Narey and Oliveira both missed important chances and the hosts somehow found a goal in the 71st minute with a header by Kuen, with the goal counting after VAR was also used to review the phase of play.

PAOK were not deterred by the goal, and went in search of a second goal to take the three points, but the visitors failed to score again, with Brandon missing a good opportunity in the 89th minute after a Rafa Soares free-kick.

Team lineups:

Atromitos: Gianniotis, Keshrinda, Hatziisaias, Struggis, De Bock, Economidis (65′ Kuen), Fridjonsson, Erlingmark, Rotariou (85′ Tzovaras), Robai (65′ Klonaridis), Kiartanson (65′ Tzavidas).

PAOK: Kotarski, Vieirinha (76′ Lyratzis), Ingason, Koulierakis, Rafa Soares, Schwab (85′ Dantas), Douglas Augusto, Narey (85′ Murg), A.Zivkovic, Konstantelias, Oliveira (76′ Thomas).