Razvan Lucescu fielded a strong team with a clear plan, that looked well-read, and showed plenty of focus on the task in hand, and PAOK tried to impose themselves from the ikc-off, taking advantage of a fantastic atmosphere generated by their fans in the Toumba Stadium.

Both teams had a decent chance each at the start, with Taison threatening from close range with a double effort, while at the other end Perez failed to find the target after a promising run into the penalty area. Andrija Zivkovic and Jonjoe Kenny tried to threaten, with Taison seeing the shot he attempted after a cross from Ozdoev end up just wide of the post in the 16th minute.

Maccabi responded by creating two good moments, both of which saw Pavlenka on hand to intervene. The Czech goalkeeper initially stopped a shot by Davida, while he then stopped Perez in a one-on-one situation.

In the 32nd minute, A. Zivkovic’s shot was blocked, while in the 34th minute, Maccabi did get the ball in the net through the lively Perez, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside after a VAR intervention.

In the last minutes of the first half, PAOK pressed, picked up speed, but failed to create chances, having only one shot by Konstantelias from a wide position, which was blocked and went for a corner. And so th eteams went intothe dressing rooms at half-time at 0-0.

In the second half, PAOK came on stronger and for 15 minutes penned Maccabi in their own half, but still without creating clear-cut chances. At the other end, the visitors had their first attempt on goal of ht esecond half in the 63rd minute but Pavlenka impressively saved a close-range shot by Andrade.

PAOK responded with an effort on the crossbar after the ball bounced off a Maccabi defender, while Darida then failed to find the target from a good position for the visitors shortly after.

In the 75th minute, an excellent cross by Andrija Zivkovic culd not be converted into a goal by Chalov and Despodov .

The game ended with two incredible opportunities for PAOK. The first went to Chalov, who was released by Ivanusec’s pass, but but Mispati in the Maccabi goal blocked the Russian’s close-range effort. Then Ivanusec sent Kamara through one-on-one with Mispati, but again the Maccabi goalkeeper had the answer and denied the PAOK man.

Team lineups:

PAOK: Pavlenka, Kenny, Baba, Kedziora, Michailides, Ozdoev (65′ Kamara), Meite, Konstantelias (86′ Ivanusec), Taison (65′ Despodov), A. Zivkovic, Giakoumakis (71′ Chalov).

Maccabi Tel: Mispati, Revivo, Kamara, Shlomo, Assante, Sissoko (72′ Noi), Belic, Perez, Yehezkel (89′ Madmon), Andrade (90+2′ Sahar), Davida (72′ Varela).