Pablo Garcia and Miroslav Schnauzner made wholesale changes for this match, with Daiko and Aventisian in defence, Salamouras in the middle and a three-pronged attack featuring Tziolis, Gorteziani and Panidis for the first time this season.

PAOK began the match well and pressed the visitors’ goal, demonstrating some slick passing but without managing to fashion a clear scoring chance. Then a breakthrough finally came in the 28th minute when Kaloutsikidis surged into the penalty area and hit the woodwork with his shot. The ball fell kindly into the path of Panidis who finished well to make it 1-0.

The Dikefalos tou Vorra started the second half with a similar eagerness to which they had began the first, but again clear chances were at a premium. After 56 minutes Volos were reduced to 10 players and the tempo of the game changed from that moment. The visitors opted to stage a damage limitation exercise and set their stall up to defend, and PAOK struggled to create clear scoring chances but seemed as though the team were only in second gear, perhaps saving their energy for the upcoming derby clash with Panathinaikos.

There was still one more goal to come, however, in injury time when Koutsias broke clear down the right channel before scoring with a clinical finish to make the final score 2-0.

PAOK line-up:

Balomenos, Kaloutsikidis, Michailidis, Daiko, Aventisian, Giaxis, Tsiggaras, Salamouras, Tziolis (84′ Pournaras), Panidis (71′ Koutsias), Gorteziani (63′ Grosdis).