The two Double-headed eagles of Greek football have taken a strong first step towards the next round of European qualifiers after each scoring narrow victories.
The two sides both earned wins in the first leg of the second qualifying round for UEFA’s club competitions, with PAOK one game away from guaranteeing themselves of European football this season.
The Thessaloniki giants owed their success to their two centre backs, who collectively provided all the goals of their 3-2 home win against FK Borac Banja Luka in their Champions League qualifier.
Youngster Konstantinos Koulierakis put his club in front with a corner header (17′) which was quickly cancelled out by the Bosnian club via a penalty from Sebastian Herera Cardona (22′).
Koulierakis restored their advantage with a tap-in header following a save by goalkeeper Damjan Siskovski (39′), though the visitors again brought it level through a striker from winger Enver Kulasin (45+3′).
PAOK capitalised on another corner with centre half William Troost-Ekong heading the ball in (51′) for what proved to be the winning goal.
AEK survived a late scare to earn a 4-3 success over Inter Club d’Escaldes at “Agia Sophia” Stadium in their Europa Conference League qualifier, though the momentum is certainly with their opponents after they coughed up a four-goal advantage.
Enosi dominated the majority of the contest and by the 52nd minute had stormed to a 4-0 scoreline.
It was courtesy of a strong opening half wherein midfielder Robert Ljubicic (6′), striker Levi Garcia (20′) and winger Mijat Gacinovic (31′) all got on the scoresheet, with centre half Harold Moukoudi’s corner header (52′) topping off a stellar display up to that point.
The “yellow-blacks” crumbled in the last quarter of the game, starting with an own goal from defender Domagoj Vida in the 65th minute.
The Andorrans soon found the back of the net via their own players through a penalty from forward Sascha Andreu (78′), which was followed up five minutes later by midfielder Victor Martinez.
The visitors’ comeback means AEK will have to turn up big in the reverse fixture next week, having given up the huge lead that would have afforded them a strong sense of comfort.
The attention turns to Panathinaikos as they prepare to face Botev Plovdiv on Friday morning at the Olympic Stadium in their Europa League qualifier.
The “Trifylli” will no doubt be eager to make a statement in their first competitive game under new coach Diego Alonso, with victory a must if they wish to get their European qualifying campaign off to a good start like their fellow rivals.
