PAOK face an uphill task to qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League after going down to a 1-0 home defeat against CSKA Moscow on Thursday night.

The home side were outplayed for most of the game and can count themselves fortunate to only be 1-0 down going into the second leg.

PAOK made a strong start and both Dimitris Salpigidis and Adelino Vierinha went close in the opening stages.

However, it was the visitors that took the lead after 29 minutes when Tomas Necid chested down Georgi Schennikov’s cross and shot past Kostas Chalkias.

The Greek international goalkeeper had to pull off a couple of top class saves to keep his team in the game. PAOK created a couple of chances of their own in the second half but lacked the composure necessary to finish them off.

PAOK were the lowest scoring team to make it to the last 32 but they will need to find at least two goals in Moscow on February 22 if they are going to make it into the next round.

Aris draw at home

Aris held Manchester City to a 0-0 draw at Thessaloniki on Tuesday for the first leg of the round of 32 of the Europa League to maintain their 43-year-long unbeaten home record in Europe intact.

The result was probably the best that the Greeks could hope for against one of the most expensive sides in Europe, as they weathered the pressure that could have seen them crumble, although this was definitely not City’s night.

The match took place in front of a capacity crowd that created a fantastic atmosphere at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium.

City fielded Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and David Silva in the first leg, an attacking lineup that cost more than 150 million euros combined.

City were the better side throughout the match but could not quite get their finishing touch right, and were twice denied by Aris and Greece goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis.

The first time Sifakis was called to the task was at the 15th minute when David Silva fed Edin Dzeko, but he could not beat the Greek keeper from close distance.

The best moment for Aris in the first half came at the 44th minute as a Darcy Neto free-kick from the edge of the box screamed a few inches next to the right post of Joe Hart who was left stranded.

Aris, who have the elimination of Europa League holders Atletico Madrid already under their belt this season, tried some shots from outside the box by Neto and Juan Carlos Toja in the second half but would not catch Hart off guard as the English keeper was not to be beaten.

Sifakis produced the save of the evening as he stretched to palm away the powerful header by Dzeko at the 63rd minute.

The Bosnian could not find the target with his strong shot eight minutes later, either.

Aris gave some ground in the last 10 minutes but City could not capitalise on their pressure to break the deadlock.

“We played brilliantly against a team, the cheapest player of which costs as much as the total budget of Aris, Paok and Iraklis (the other two Thessaloniki clubs) put together,” said Aris manager Yiannis Mihalitsios.

“We had control of the game but this pitch was difficult to play on, and I think if we had scored in the first half with Dzeko, things may have changed,” Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said. “But they defended with nine or ten men behind the ball, so it was difficult.”

The second leg will take place at the City of Manchester Stadium on February 24.