The players coached by Pablo García and Apostolos Papavasiliou had but one intention: to win and leave their UEFA Youth League elimination by AFC Ajax behind them.

PAOK started strongly, pressured Atromitos and could have taken the lead in the 9th minute, as Chatzistravos was awarded a penalty. However Stathopoulos saw his spot kick saved by the rival goalkeeper. Chances were scarce at both ends of the pitch and there was mostly midfield action, with the “Double-Headed Eagle” enjoying possession and taking the initiative. Atromitos went close in the 26th minute, while Tzovaras’s shot went just wide four minutes later. PAOK wasted their biggest chance in the 39th minute, when Chatzistravos’s point-blank shot was blocked.

It was a tough match with strong duels and several unsporting challenges by Atromitos players. In the 44th minute, Dimitriou suffered a hard hit in the ankle and had to be substituted. The rival who hit him was spared dismissal, despite also shoving a player of PAOK. Neither side could break the deadlock in the first half.

After the interval, PAOK stepped on the throttle despite their fatigue from their midweek trip and match in the Netherlands and staged a siege of Atromitos’s box. In the 53rd minute, Stathopoulos went close with a header and in the 64th minute, the “Double-Headed Eagle” took the lead through a double effort of Tzovaras from inside the box.

After PAOK’s goal, Atromitos pushed for the equalizer and left spaces for the “Double-Headed Eagle” to exploit by counterattacks. The black-and-whites came close to sealing their victory twice, but their final pass left much to be desired. Against the run of play, the visiting side managed to level the match with a header and despite PAOK’s efforts the match ended undecided.

PAOK U20: Muca, Papathanasiou, Gialamoudis, Dodontsakis, Dimitriou (44′ Polyzos), Meletidis, Νoukaris, Chatzistravos (57′ Αidonidis), Papadopoulos, Tzovaras, Stathopoulos (61′ Yfantidis)