They destroyed PAOK and Panathinaikos remained on top! The “greens” with a very convincing appearance, “stepped” on Metz 3-0 set the Thessaloniki team for the 11th matchday of the Volley League and proved that they have overcome the European blockade for good!
Second victory in as many matches for the “clover” against PAOK this season, with Josko Milekonski’s team knowing the 5th defeat in 10 matches this season in the league.
The start of PAOK in Metz was strong, after it managed to take a 5-0 lead with an excellent block. The “greens”, however, reacted and even though they chased the score for quite some time, they managed to draw (12-12) by taking advantage of the many mistakes of PAOK and their excellent service. However, Panathinaikos suffered a blackout again, giving the “doubleheader” the right to escape with four (12-16) and maintain this lead until 16-20. But the team of Dimitris Andreopoulos made a separate 4-0 and equalized 20-20. The match was a thriller with the two teams going point by point and with Panathinaikos going ahead for the first time at 25-24. PAOK was constantly equalizing, but two well-organized attacks, in the “overtime” of the set, were decisive for Panathinaikos to reach 28-26 and 1-0!
With Hernandez and Rangel having a great match, Panathinaikos did not repeat the mistakes of the first set and took the lead from the start with the difference going from two to the maximum value of five points (11-6) . PAOK reacted and with Linardo-Khruchev leading the scoring reduced the score to 14-13. The “greens”, however, were in no mood for adventures and although Milekonski’s team were consistently close to the score and equalised, they took the set 25-23 for 2-0 in the sets.
The third set turned into a performance for one role after Panathinaikos came in determined to get the “three points”. The team of Dimitris Andreopoulos, had pluralism in the attack and with Kasampali, Hernandez and Protopsaltis found a score, taking a lead of six points at the most crucial point (15-9). PAOK tried to re-enter the match, however the range of the score did not allow it, with Panathinaikos reaching a relatively easy 3-0 set. (25-19).
The sets: 28-26, 25-23, 25-19
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