PAOK machine gun, scattered AEL Novibet!

Four idle for him PAOK. The “two-headed team of the North” prevailed 4-1 against AEL Novibet in Toumba, taking their first points in the Betsson Cup.

Lucescu’s side were delightful in the first half and held their own in the second ahead of their next commitments. THE Ivanuchets drew the 1-0 in the 3rd minute with a terrible shot, while o Konstantelias executed from close range in the 12′, with Despodov to score in the 17th minute with a penalty won by Delias. He scored his first goal with Thessaloniki in the 31st minute Myth with a nice placement in his maiden participation in the starting line-up. Tupta reduced the score with a direct corner kick in the 75th minute for the visitors.

PAOK is focusing on the away game against Panserraikos, while AEL Novibet is focusing on the one against Levadeiakos.

In the coach’s mind

Loyal to 4-2-3-1 Lucescu. Tsiftsis remained in goal, with Michaelidis and Voliakos in front of him, while Keni and Baba were in the back. Bianco and Meite in midfield, with Despontov and Ivanuchets on the “wings”, while Constantelias behind Mythos.

With 4-2-3-1 AEL Novibet. In goal, Anagnostopoulos, with Kovacevich, Pantelaki, Bagaliani and Apostolaki in the defensive four. In the midfielders Staikos and Andrada, with Chagal, Diminikos and Tupta behind Garate.

The match

PAOK entered the match with a bang, making an ideal start. Only in the 2nd minute did the “two-headed of the North” have a great chance, with Anagnostopoulos repelling Despodov’s finish and immediately after that he made it 1-0. In the 3rd Ivanuchets made a nice maneuver out of the area and Placedara in the left window of Anagnostopoulos who was thrown in vain.

The “two-headed man of the North” continued with the foot on the… accelerator. He actually had a demonic quarter. In the 10th minute, he threatened Despodov who made a diagonal shot, with the ball going just wide. Two minutes later the Bulgarian fed Kenny who instantly turned for him Constantiawho executed from the heart of the opposing defense.

PAOK had something good again two minutes later. Constantelias pirouetted and fed Kenny who was defeated by Anagnostopoulos. However, after an onfield review it was found that Kovacevic had pulled the shirt of the Greek international ace, with Polychronis showing the white bullet. THE Despodov executed low into the right corner of the Greek goalkeeper who fell to the right side without preventing the 3-0 at 17′.

After twenty minutes, PAOK hit the brakes a little. Quite reasonable, as it was not easy to continue at this tempo. In the 26th minute after a corner, o Daddy he made a standing header, with the goalkeeper of the “crimson” comfortably blocking.

The frame for PAOK was completed in the 31st minute. Kenny crossed right for Despontov, who turned for him Myth who beat Anagnostopoulos with a nice move.

To find AEL’s first attempt at something the match had to reach the 35th minute, with Sagal making a left-footed shot that was relatively easily blocked by Tsiftsis.

Until the break, it was a calmer period of the match. His shot Michaelidis in the 38th minute after a corner kick it was very wrong, while in stoppage time Despontov committed a foul and Anagnostopoulos blocked.

The second half it wasn’t that crowded. It had some big phases, but overall less noticeable than the first one, it moved at a much lower tempo. Especially after the changes of the two coaches.

In the 52nd minute, PAOK had a great chance, with Constantelia executing from close range after Despontov’s turn and Anagnostopoulos making a save.

Five minutes later, the “double-headed of the North” had another great chance, with Baba sending the ball just past the right post of Anagnostopoulos with projection after a static phase.

After the first quarter, the match began to break down, as changes were made, with the coaches turning their attention to the… upcoming. AEL Novibet scored the goal of honor in the 75th minute with a direct kick from Tuptas.

The remaining quarter was completely proceduralwith the only notable phases being a misdirected header by AEL Novibet in stoppage time and Bianco’s place for PAOK with Anagnostopoulos on hand.

The film of the fight

MVP: Constantelias. As long as the match was live, the international ace was unstoppable. Scored 2-0, won the penalty of the 3rd goal and was generally airy, while starting on his own two feet and 4-0. We don’t catch the 1-0 that is inside, because it is due to a shot by Ivanuchets. Very good performance from Despodov too who was very creative.

Whistle: It is not possible to stand in the refereeing with the image that the match had. There is a pull on Konstantelias and logically a penalty was given which made it 3-0, but the referee needed VAR. There were complaints about Kovacevic’s hand in the second half, but VAR saw no foul.

PAOK (Razvan Lucescu): Tsiftsis – Kenny, Voliakos, Michaelidis, Baba (72′ Taylor) – Bianco, Meite (60′ Thymianis) – Ivanousets, Konstantelias (60′ Tyson), Despodov (60′ Berdos) – Mythou (72′ Chalov)

Left on the bench were: Gugesashvili, Monastirlis, Kenziora, Bataoulas, Ozdoev, Zivkovic.

AEL Novibet (Stelios Malezas): Anagnostopoulos- Apostolakis, Bagalianis, Pantelakis, Kovacevich – Staikos, Andrada (75′ Sourlis) – Sagal (75′ Yousis), Diminikos (55′ Varsamis), Tupta, Garate (55′ Tsakla)

On the counter: Hadjistravos, Faizal, Iliadis, Melissas, Papageorgiou, Pasha, Viniato.