Razvan Lucescu lined up his team with Pavlenka between the posts, Sastre, Lovren, Michailides and Taylor in defense, a central midfield duo of Meite and Ozdoev, Pelkas in front of them, and a three-pronged attack in Taison, A. Zivkovic and Giakoumakis.

The home side started the game in determined mood and took control from the off, with Kifisia sitting back and looking for a chance on the counter-attack. A missed shot by A. Zivkovic and a shot by Tzimas that was blocked by Pavlenka were the best the two teams had to show in the first minutes of the match. In the 26th minute, PAOK found the net via Pelkas , but the goal was disallowed for offside on Giakoumakis, with the Double-headed Eagle increasing the pressure from that moment until the half-time break.

PAOK penned Kifissia nack in their own half, threatened with some shots by a lively Taison, while in the 43rd minute, the solution finally arrived for the hosts. After a corner kick taken by A. Zivkovic, Ozdoev headed the ball goalwards, and the ball ended up in the net via a delfection off Simon’s head for 1-0.

The second half started with Kifissia having a good shot from Esquivel but Pavlenka saving it impressively. PAOK responded with Pelkas and Giakoumakis threatening, while after that the pace of the game dropped and PAOK were in complete control.

In the 74th minute the visitors were left with 10 men, as Souza was shown a second yellow card – followed by a red – for a foul on Ozdoev. PAOK managed to find two more goals in the closing stages with Taison being in very good form and scoring twice, after two assists from captain Zivkovic.

The final whistle saw PAOK celebrating an important, as well as historic, victory, as Lucescu chalked up his 200th victory as PAOK coach.

Team lineups:

PAOK: Pavlenka, Taylor (76′ Baba), Michailides, Lovren, Sastre (67′ Kenny), Meite, Ozdoev, Taison, Pelkas (67′ Ivanusec), A. Zivkovic, Giakoumakis (86′ Chalov)

Kifisia: Xenopoulos, Khouchoumis (59′ Larouche), Simon, Embo, O. Souza, Pokorny, Antonise (59′ Z. Souza), Roukounakis (72′ Musiolik), Tzimas (78′ Petkov), Esquivel (59′ Amani), Tetteh.