If someone asked PAOK’s players and staff before the game if they were okay with the draw against Spartak Moscow at the “Otkritie Arena”, most of them would have more than likely said “yes”.

However, after the way the game progressed on Tuesday, it may have left them with a bitter taste in their mouth, thinking they could have left Russia with a win and lamenting on their many missed opportunities. And this will be something that they will have to work on, if they are to advance beyond the Champions League play-offs, since they will be up against the competition of Benfica and at this level, no mistakes will be permitted.

Going back to the scoreless game in Russia, PAOK manager Racvan Lucesku decided to use the team’s captain Adelino Vieirinha in the place of Jevjen Khacheridi and position Jose Crespo in the heart of the defence. The team had a slender 3-2 lead from the first game in Toumba to protect, however they had no intention of staying in their own area and give Spartak the ball. In fact, it was PAOK that started the game with the majority of possession and it was also them that made the first threats towards the goal of Spartak’s keeper Maximenko.

The first real chance by the home team came on the 26th minute when, after a Promes free kick, Canias got his head onto the ball and nearly sent it into his own team’s net, however it hit the crossbar. Five minutes later, everything changed. During a struggle between Spartak striker Luis Adriano and Crespo, the Brazilian elbowed the PAOK defender. This did not go unnoticed by the French referee Ruddy Buquet, who punished the forward with a red card, changing the balance in the game.

After this, the Greek team began to come out of their area even more and maintain possession, which lead to them creating more chances in front of Maximenko’s goal; like in the 37th minute, when Prijovic couldn’t sent in a Vieirinha free kick; or in the 54th, when Limnios made the run down to the right and chipped the ball into the area, but Pelkas’ shot wasn’t effective, the loose ball falling to Warda. The Egyptian tried twice to get the goal but to no avail.

Seeing they hadn’t scored, and with only a one-goal advantage on their hands, PAOK began to withdraw in the final minutes, giving Spartak the opportunity to make a last attempt at finding that crucial goal. However, despite all the pressure they put on the team from Salonica, they were never able to penetrate their defence.

PAOK held on to the draw, advancing to the play-offs of the Champions League where Benfica awaits them. The Portuguese side also got a 1-1 draw at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium against Fenerbahce, sealing their position to the next round. After the game, PAOK’s coach said that it was normal for his team to retreat in the final minutes, considering what was at stake, and he also pointed out that although it may seam like an exaggeration for PAOK to knock out opponents such as Spartak Moscow and Basel, the work they’ve being putting in training has been worth it.

Lineups:

  • Spartak Moscow: Maximenko, Yeshchenko, Kombarov (76′ Melgarejo), Dzhikiya, Gigot, Glushakov, Fernando (63′ Samedov), Zobnin, Tashayev (46′ Ze Luis), Luis Adriano, Promes
  • PAOK: Paschalakis, Matos, Vieirinha (65′ Khacheridi), Varela, Crespo, Mauricio, Canias, Limnios, El Kaddouri (46′ Warda), Pelkas (79′ Shakhov), Prijovic