Everything will be decided at the OAKA
It was a acse of two teams with entirely differerent intentions at the Toumba on Wednesday. As PAOK and AEK played out a goalless draw. On the one hand, PAOK turned up wanting to play football, to push and try and get a lead in the tie. On the other there was AEK, who were only interested in finishing the game. The final whistle saw the match end without a goal and the qualification to the semi-finals is wide open ahead of the second leg at the OAKA in a week’s time.
PAOK showed up with a clear plan, displayed composure in their game, as well as patience, but the hosts lacked a clear head with their fina; ball. In contrast, AEK came to Thessaloniki to play mostly in their own half and try to hit the home side on the break, playing like most teams do at the Toumba.
Razvan Lucescu’s team started the match in better shape, pushing high up the pitch and threatening three times with Kurtic and A. Zivkovic in the first quarter of an hour. The visitors, for their part, looked balanced, but they did not show much willingness to attack, with their main concern seemingly trying to waste time in any way possible.
The biggest moments of the first half came after 35 minutes when initially, Paschalakis saved Jevtic’s side-footed effort from a good position, while at the other end, Mitoglou blocked Douglas’ effort on goal from outside the penalty area.
PAOK had another good moment through A. Zivkovic afterwards, but the Serbian winger’s shot did not find the target and the 0-0 scoreline remained so as the teams disappeared into the dressing rooms at half-time.
In the second half the pattern of play did not change. PAOK pressed more intensely and left space at the back which AEK tried to take advantage of in two phases of play through Zuber. The AEK winger scored with the first chance but the goal was correctly ruled out via VAR for offside, while in the 62nd minute Paschalakis saved well in a one-on-one situation.
For their part, PAOK controlled most of the possession and were looking for ways to create openings, but the Union’s defensive tactics, and some bad decision-making in the final third of the pitch from the home side meant they did not create many clear opportunities.
The most significant of these was Lyratzis‘ cross-shot which skimmed the crossbar in the 76th minute, and a header from substitute Swiderski from a good positiomn in the penalty area following a free-kick.
The goal did not come, however, and both teams will resolve their differences at the OAKA in a week from today. PAOK kept a clean sheet, and so actually has the slight advanteg in view of a rematch as the away goals rule still applies in Greece, with the Double-headed Eagle qualifying in case of a score draw.
Team lineups:
PAOK: Paschalakis, Lyratzis, Ingason, Crespo, Sidcley (71′ Vieirinha), Kurtic, Schwab, Jaba (71′ Biseswar), Augusto (77′ Mitrita), A. Zivkovic, Akpom (77′ Swiderksi).
AEK: Tsintotas, Rota, Mitoglou, Tzavellas, Mohammadi, Simoes (91′ Svarnas), Syzmanski, Garcia, Jevtic (80′ Le Tallec), Zuber, Ansarifard (87′ Hadj Safi).
