Incorrigible PAOK, another defeat and… now it’s running!

Failure, absence of a clear mind and many missed opportunities for PAOK, who presented the same pathologies that they showed against Aris and lost 1-0 in Toumba to Steaua for the 2nd matchday of the Europa League.

Although he was in control of the match and created several phases, he conceded a goal in the only good phase of his opponent and now… he is running, as he was very low in the standings and next matchday he travels to Manchester for the struggle with the wounded and in a very difficult position United.

In the minds of the coaches:

THE Lucescu using his favorite 4-2-3-1started with Kotarski under the goalposts, while the four in defense consisted of Baba, Michaelidis, Kenziora and Sastre. In the midfield, the duo of Istanbul was found, namely Kamara and Ozdoev, with the attacking triplet consisting of Tyson, Constantelia and Despodov. Chalov started at the top.

On the other hand, Charalambous he followed a similar approach to that of Dicephalos, as he lined up Steaua with 4-2-3-1. Tarnovanu under the posts, with Kretou on the right and Radunovic on the left covering the two ends of the defense. Engezana and Dava made up the central defensive duo. On the axis of Lixandrou and Sout. With Balucha on the right of attack and Tanase on the left. Birligea started at the top of the attack and behind him was the captain of the team, Olaru.

The match:

THE PAOK he entered the match with only one goal: To impose himself from the beginning and look for the early goal that would put him in a driving position. The Two-Headed One had a clear plan to attack from the right, with the Despodov to be the main spokesman of the team’s attacks. PAOK’s first good phase came from his cross, with Daddy who had stepped on the area to catch the head and him Tarnovano to repel impressively.

Lucescu’s side were trying to create and get into the Romanians’ box, but the many interruptions by Steaua players, who were constantly falling to the ground, did not help the pace of the match. The individual quality of PAOK’s midfield line, however, brought the first big moment in the game. THE Constantelias with a very nice slash he took him out Tyson in shooting position, he stepped into range, feinted to avoid his personal opponent, and executed with the left. THE Tarnovanohowever, once again had an answer.

There were a lot of interruptions, a fact which is evidenced by the 6 minutes of stoppage time in the first half and everything showed that the two teams would go to the locker room without a score. A bad estimate of him Michaelidishowever, at 45’+8′, he gave to Olaru the ability to take the ball, to make the parallel turn to Birligeawho opened the scoring in an empty net, against the flow of the match.

The second half began as the first ended. With him PAOK to try to attack and Steaua to defend in low meters, trying to absorb the pressure of the Biceps. OR elimination of Olaru in 55′ it would theoretically help PAOK reach the Romanians’ area more easily, but it confused him more. From very early on, the crosses started, which Steaua’s stoppers blocked with relative ease, while the team’s game became quite one sided (from the right side of Despontov-Sastre) and if we exclude a good header by Ozdoev which was taken out by Tarnovanothe rest of the finals didn’t really threaten.

The Romanians continued to fall to the ground constantly and make delays, frustrating his players PAOK. This absence of a clear mind was also what cost him Bicepswho did not have a good phase in the remaining minutes of the match and suffered their second consecutive defeat in the tournament.

MVP: THE Tarnovano he is indisputably the best of the match. He was steadfast and whenever he had to show his reflexes he did it in the best possible way.

The “whistle”: THE Stegeman he could not at any point of the match keep a balance in the match. On the one hand he gave a lot of yellow cards, on the other hand he did nothing to stop the Steaua players from delaying. The expulsion of Olaros is correct.

The elevens:

PAOK: Kotarski, Baba, Michaelidis, Keziora, Sastre (Zivkovic 70′), Kamara (Bakayoko 70′), Ozdoev (Schwab 73′), Constantelias, Tyson, Despontov (Soretire 83′), Chalov (Tisudali 70′).

Steaua Bucharest: Tarnovanu, Kretou, Dava, Tanase (Oct. Popescu 64′), Chut, Birligea, Lixandrou (Ezuma 45’+5′), M. Popescu, Baluta (Miculescu 46′), Olaru, Radunovic.

Referee: Sasha Stengeman

Assistants: Marco Asmiller, Christoph Gans,

Fourth: Martin Petersen,

VAR: Pascal Miller, AVAR: Kathryn Rafalski