The Thessaloniki giants have delivered a huge statement after making light work of Ferencvaros, greatly boosting their chances of advancing in the UEFA Europa League.
PAOK thumped the Hungarian club 5-0 at “Toumba” Stadium on Friday morning (AEDT) in the sixth matchday of the competition’s League Phase, building off their win in the previous game to move to into the top 24.
The reigning Greek champions opened the scoring in the tenth minute, thanks to a lovely first time finish by playmaker Taison from the edge of the box into the bottom left.
PAOK struck again in the 29th minute after a clever low free kick ball by captain Andrija Zivkovic was tapped in by striker Brandon Thomas.
The Thessaloniki outfit then finished the game with a flurry of goals in the final quarter of the game.
The first came from substitute Fyodor Chalov, who scored a tap-in (76′), with Zivkovic scoring next from the penalty spot (80′) before Kiril Despodov added the final touch with a strike in the 89th minute.
The result significantly improves PAOK’s standing in the competition, taking them to 22nd place with seven points.
Olympiacos was forced to settle for a 0-0 draw with Twente at “Georgios Karaiskakis” Stadium, their third straight stalemate in the competition which takes them to 15th position with nine points.
The game promised goals with each side winning a penalty in the contest, though they both failed to capitalise.
The Dutch team had the first crack when captain Ricky Van Wolfswinkel stepped up and guided his effort into the bottom left, only for goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis to keep it out (9′).
Olympiacos marksman Ayoub El Kaabi then had his own spot-kick saved by goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall, who also dived successfully towards the bottom left.
Panathinaikos has given their UEFA Conference League campaign a healthy lift after earning a 0-2 away triumph over The New Saints in the fifth and penultimate matchday of the League Phase, climbing up the table into 18th place with seven points.
The Greens took the lead in the 15th minute through playmaker Filip Djuricic, who managed to knock in an easy rebound after his initial shot was saved by goalkeeper Connor Roberts.
The “Trifylli” then managed to make it two in the 61st minute when captain Fotis Ioannidis buried it into the bottom left, the striker’s first goal for Panathinaikos since August.
APOEL sealed a 1-3 away success over FC Noah Yerevan to guarantee a spot in the next round, ascending to tenth place with ten points.
The visitors took the lead in the 23rd minute after defender Issam Chebake scored a corner header, though the Armenian outfit was able to bring it level just before the break through forward Matheus Aias (45+4′).
APOEL regained the advantage in the 89th minute, thanks to another corner set piece which eventually saw midfielder Georgi Kostadinov knock the ball in, with substitute David Abagna putting the game to bed quickly after (90+3′).
Paphos has secured their spot in the next stage of the Conference League after defeating FK Celje 2-0 at home to move into 12th place with nine points.
The hosts went ahead right after half time through a well-struck effort by winger Vlad Dragomir (48′), making it two 15 minutes later via Joao Correia.
Omonia has sealed a crucial 2-1 home success against SK Rapid Wien to boost their chances of finishing in the top 24.
The Cypriot club took the lead in the 52nd minute when Andronikos Kakkoulis struck the ball sweetly into the top right from a tight angle.
The Austrian side cancelled it out ten minutes later through Dion Drena Beljo, though the home side managed to restore their lead soon after via substitute Willy Semedo (66′).
The Cypriot side then sealed the win in the last minute after Rapid had committed all the players forward for a free kick set piece in search of an equaliser, with substitute Saidou Alioum Moubarak taking the ball and hitting it into an empty net (90+6′).
The victory puts Omonia in 21st place with six points, setting up what could be a qualification shootout against FK Borac Banja Luka in the competition’s final matchday next week.
