Razvan Lucescu proceeded with an extensive rotation, which is understandable, given the schedule that includes a series of demanding games. Tsiftsis , Michailides, Meite and Despodov kept their places in the starting XI, while Taylor, Sastre, Lovren, Ozdoev, Taison, Ivanusec and Giakoumakis came in to give freshness and energy to the team.

The first half was not particularly of a high quality, and did not have a good rhythm. The visitors decided to give the ball to PAOK, wait in their own half and try to go on the counter-attack. It was a strategy that worked in part, as on the one hand Volos closed the corridors towards Siabanis’ goal and did not allow the hosts to become particularly dangerous, on the other hand they did not manage to have a single shot on Tsiftsis’ goal.

Giakoumakis and Ozdoev each had a good effort that did not result in a goal in the first 10 minutes, Taison in the 23rd minute attempted a curled effort, but did not beat Siabanis, while until the break Lovren had a header, but did not find the target, resulting in the teams going in at half-time at 0-0.

The second half started ideally for PAOK. In the 48th minute, Despodov executed a free-kick, and the ball reached Giakoumakis, who made it 1-0 with a wonderful shot on the move, laying the foundations for victory.

PAOK, from then onwards, managed the game perfectly, and with patience and composure tried to find the second goal to lock up the three points. The man who came to finish everything off was Magomed Ozdoev.

The Russian midfielder, on his return to action after the injury he suffered after the game against AEK, scored two goals. Initially, in the 73rd minute, he saw his teammates exchange passes superbly, and Taylor served up a perfect assist on the penalty spot to apply a finish for 2-0, while in the 80th minute, Giakoumakis laid the ball off for him to score his team’s third goal.

The remaining minutes of the match were more or less a formality and PAOK celebrated a very important victory at the final whistle.

Team lineups:

PAOK (Razvan Lucescu): Tsiftsis, Taylor (78′ Bmba), Michailides, Lovren (59′ Vogliacco), Sastre (68′ Kenny), Meite, Ozdoev, Taison, Ivanusec (59′ Konstantelias), Despodov (68′ A.Zivkovic), Giakoumakis.

NFC Volos (Juan Ferrando): Siambanis, Mygas, Hermanson, Triantafyllou (74′ Pinci), Soria, Bouzoukis (59′ Grosdis), Fortuna, Hamulic (74′ Makni), Lambrou, Juanpi (86′ Pruntzos), Tzoka (86′ Zarzana).