Răzvan Lucescu’s main objective was to see his players perform for 90 minutes. PAOK kept their lines compact, created many opportunities to score and brought out on the pitch many of the fine characteristics displayed last season. It was a good performance despite high temperatures at Silvolde, Netherlands.

The overall satisfaction though was marred by the Dutch side’s tough tackles and consequent frustration of PAOK players, as well as the injury of Fernando Varela, who sustained a knock and had to withdraw before the interval. The Cape Verde defender will undergo medical tests as soon as the team return to Thessaloniki, but the medical staff doesn’t seem worried.

PAOK started into the encounter with all systems go and Adelino Vieirinha was denied by the woodwork after just 5 minutes of play. The “Double-Headed Eagle” were very lively upfront and created danger in Etemadi’s box. However they found themselves trailing against the run of play, Thomassen beating Alexandros Paschalakis with a shot from the are in the 33rd minute.

PAOK didn’t take long to respond. Two minutes later, Léo Matos collected a pass by Dimitris Pelkas and finished with aplomb to equalize the game. The Greek international served a second goal as well, with a through-ball that teed up Aleksandar Prijović. The Serbian striker dispatched the ball coolly and netted his first goal (unofficial) for the season.

In the second half, the heat and the players’ fatigue combined dropped the match pace. PAOK did remain in control though and wasted some good chances to extend their lead. Amr Warda played for a second consecutive day, substituting Pelkas in the 60th minute, upon request of the referee. The PAOK midfielder had an altercation with a rival after sustaining a hard knock, therefore both players were taken out of the game for the remaining half hour.

In the 88th minute, the referee pointed to the spot judging that Matos brought down a De Graafschap player, although the whole play initiated with a foul of the Dutch side. Anyway Anthony van den Hurk sent his spot kick wide and the scoreline remained unchanged.

PAOK line-up:

Paschalakis, Μatos, Vieirinha , Varela (43′ Mihojević), Crespo, Cañas, Maurício, Pelkas (59′ Warda), Limnios, Biseswar, Prijović.