PAOK spilled the beans with Galata in Istanbul

Look into her eyes Galatasaraibut PAOK left Istanbul defeated.

Despite showing a good game face, on a “hot” pitch and against a team whose roster is overflowing with quality, the “Two-Headed of the North” squandered big chances and paid for its defensive mistakes by conceding two “cheap” goals, ultimately knowing the defeat me 3-1 and starting with… the left, his obligations in the League Phase of the Europa League.

The home team took the lead in the 48th minute with an own goal Daddywith Constantia to equalize in the 67th minute, but with Galata scoring again with Akgun in 76′, before o Icardi make the final 3-1 in the last minute of stoppage time (90’+5′).

In the minds of the coaches:



With her classic 4-2-3-1 lined up PAOK o Lucescuhaving Brandon and Tsiftsis out of the mission. Kotarski started under the posts, with Otto, Kenziora, Koley and Baba forming a back four in front of him. Mandi Kamara and Ozdoev were the two midfielders in the line-up, with Zivkovic, Tyson in the winger role and with Constantelia behind Chalov.

On the other hand, the same system was chosen by Okan Burukwho did not have their starting but suspended goalkeeper, Mouslera, available. Guevents replaced him, with Ayhan, Sanchez, Bardaksi and Jacobs a defensive four, behind the two central midfielders, Torreira and Sarah. Yilmaz and Akgun formed the two wings, with Mertens moving in a “ten” role, behind the more advanced Osimen.

The match:



The match started with Galatasaray setting up a goal just 20 seconds after the cross, with Osimen to send the ball just above the crossbar, with a header from a very advantageous position. The pace was very fast in the first minutes, with PAOK pressing high and threatening the home team’s goal for the first time in the 6th minute, when after a quick development and collaboration between Otto, Zivkovic and Ozdoev, Constantelias shot high.

In fact, less than a minute later, PAOK made another final attempt, when after a flawless vertical pass from Daddyo Konstantelias he got behind the back of the defense but was delayed, with Tyson eventually picking off the pass for him Zivkovicwho shot at the goalkeeper from a sideways position.

In the 10th minute and after a corner kick, PAOK’s defense became inactive, with the ball passing through everyone and ending up in Aihanwho shot from a very difficult angle, seeing him Kotarsky to repel with overvoltage, while in the 15′ o Osimen made the individual effort, with Collie to cut him down with an excellent tackle, before the Nigerian could execute.

In the 21st century Jacobs shot from long range, high out, while in the 25th minute Chalov changed the game brilliantly for Živkovic and he passed to Archwho shot from distance, on Guevents. Afterwards, PAOK struggled to keep the ball, allowing their opponent to approach their goal threateningly. In the 26th minute and after a big mistake by Otto, Kotarski blocked a free kick with his foot in the closed corner Osimenwhile in the 27th minute the goalkeeper of PAOK pulled off another impressive intervention, having an answer to a distant “fireball” of Scree.

In the following minutes, the Brazilian midfielder attempted two more long-range shots, but failed to hit the target, while Kohli dominated the aerial duels, clearing away the home side’s numerous crosses. At 42′. Ayhan made great deep balls and Akgun scored in traffic, on the outside of the net, while in 44′ Bardaksi made the cross and Osimen took the header, sending the ball wide. However, the last big phase of the first half was for PAOK, with Constantia getting in the back of the home defense again after Kohli’s excellent deep ball, but unable to come up with a winner in his tête-à-tête with Giuvens.

The second part started badly for PAOK, with Gilmaz to warn in the 48th minute, when he failed to beat Kotarski from an advantageous position but under pressure from Daddywhile in the development of the phase and after the execution of the corner, o Osimen he took the header, with the ball passing under Baba’s feet and ending up in the PAOK net, with UEFA charging him for the own goal for the 1-0.

Having overcome the shock of the own goal, Lucescu’s side tried to react, with Constantia to come out on the counterattack and step into the big area, but not being able to find the pass for him Chalov moving in tandem, while Galatasaray responded in the 63rd minute, with Kotarski instinctively saving an Osimen contact shot.

With the pace he has… escapes and with the ball going up and down, PAOK finally found the equalizing goal in the 67th minute, with Živković passing and Otto doing the drifting turn, the Galata goalkeeper pushed away with his leg and the Constantelias he got the… rebound, sending the ball into the net for 1-1!

However, PAOK’s joy lasted less than 10 minutes, after the home team took the lead again in the 76th minute, when after a cross from Ayhan, consecutive headers from Gilmaz, Osimen and inability of the defense to remove, o Akgun he was unmarked at the height of the penalty and beat Kotarski with a strong shot, for 2-1.

Then and until the end, PAOK came forward looking for the equalizing goal again, missing an opportunity in the 88th minute, after a foul by Despodov and head of the unmarked on the second beam Colliewho was unable to send the ball into the net. Finally, in the fifth and last minute of stoppage time, Galata made it 3-1, after an assist from Demirbai and perfect placement in his movement Icardi.

Team compositions:



Galatasaray (Bouruk, 4-2-3-1): Guevents – Ayhan (84′ Geller), Sanchez, Barnacci, Jacobs – Torreira, Sara – Yilmaz (88′ Batshuayi), Mertens (78′ Demirbay), Akgun (88′ Kutlu) – Osimen (78′ Icardi)

PAOK (Lucescu, 4-2-3-1): Kotarski – Otto, Kenziora, Koley, Baba – Kamara (81′ Bakayoko), Ozdoev (77′ Schwab) – Zivkovic, Constantelias (77′ Despodov), Tyson – Chalov (70′ Tisundali)

Referee: Alejandro Hernandez (Spain)

Assistants: Jose Naranjo, Diego Sanchez Rojo

4th: Jose Luis Munuera

VAR: Carlos Del Thero Grande, Guillermo Cuadra

Live of the match from sport-fm.gr