PAOK Thessaloniki took a big step closer to qualifying for the Group stage of the Champions League for the first time in its history, when it defeated Swiss side FC Basel 3-0 away from home on Wednesday evening to clinch the tie 5-1 on aggregate and progress into the Champions League play-offs.
Basel fans had some hope of overturning the 2-1 deficit against the Greeks in the return match at St Jacobs Park, particularly after scoring a precious late away goal in Toumba the previous week. However it was the visiting 2500 strong contingent of fanatical PAOK fans who had their shirts off in wild celebration when a 7th minute Dimitris Pelkas corner found the boot of Fernando Varela for a volley to open the scoring for the Black and Whites.
PAOK’s big Serbian striker Prijovic doubled the visitor’s lead in the 52nd minute after a long goal kick from PAOK keeper Alexandros Paschalakis cleared the Basel defence. Prijovic was quickest to the bouncing ball and kept his composure to lob over Basel keeper Jonas Omlin’s despairing reach.
PAOK’s third goal came just eight minutes later from another Pelkas assist when he cut inside from the left flank, skirted the edge of the box and set up the ball for El Kaddouri to strike home off the upright to give the visitors an emphatic 3-0 away win and a 5-1 win on aggregate.
After the win, PAOK’s coach Razvan Lucescu commented: “We have good organisation. We have very good players. First of all there are persons with strong character. We trust each other in our work. As I told you yesterday, today we came to win the game, having respect for the opponents. In any case it’s a very important psychological victory for us in Europe.”
This coming Tuesday evening (Wednesday Morning AEST), the first legs of the Champions League third Qualifying round play-offs take place. PAOK will host Russian team Spartak Moscow in Thessaloniki, whilst reigning Greek Champion AEK will play in Glasgow against perennial Scottish Champion Celtic.