PAOK stepped on the throttle from the word go and squandered a gilt-edged opportunity with Chatzistravos after just two minutes of play. They did take the lead though in the 5th minute, when Doumtsis was brought down by Xanthi’s goalkeeper and Gaitanidis converted the penalty.

The match was actually decided in the 20th minute, when the “Double-Headed Eagle” scored their second goal. Following a fine team play, Gaitanidis took the shot, the ball got deflected and landed on Pournaras’s feet who made it 2-0.

PAOK remained in total control of proceedings and were never really bothered, with the exception of a few set pieces and long-range shots. They kept hammering Xanthi’s goal and could have recorded a larger victory had their finishing been more accurate. They did score a third goal in the 75th minute with Doumtsis, who made the most of Balogiannis’s excellent through-ball.

After this victory, PAOK have 28 points in 10 matches, five more than AEK Athens who have played one more match and lost 3-1 to Panetolikos in Agrinio. Atromitos thrashed Olympiakos 6-2, while Panathinaikos played a 1-1 draw with Apollon Smyrni.

PAOK U19: Papadopoulos, Τsaousis, Lyratzis, Μichailidis, Diamantis, Τsiggaras, Balogiannis, Chatzistravos (59’ Salamouras), Gaitanidis (77’ Karakoutis), Pournaras (61’ Xifilinos), Doumtsis.