A tough test was on the menu on Saturday, with PAOK facing feisty Eginiakos away. It was a welcome opportunity for the players to keep in form during the international break and for the coaching staff to check out more players of the U20s. The two sides drew 1-1 in a fine encounter with pace and scoring chances.

PAOK needed just three minutes on the pitch to get the opener, following a successful pressing move by Μaarten Martens who teed-up Facundo Pereyra and the latter beat the rival goalkeeper with a powerful side shot. After falling behind, Eginiakos became more dangerous especially from set pieces, Koutsospyros getting denied by the post. However PAOK also had the woodwork to blame on a direct free kick by Martens.

After the interval and several substitutions in both sides, the match managed to keep its high tempo and chances were carved out in both boxes. Eginiakos were the ones to score though, as Naumcevski met a cross from the left and just pocked it past the goalline. Kakkoswasted a big chance at stoppage time to separate the two teams, but his close range shot was also denied by the post.

Dimitris Papadopoulos made his (unofficial) PAOK debut, while Eyal Golasa returned to action following his injury. Both players proved to be in fine form and ready for PAOK’s upcoming encounters.

PAOK players came up against Stefanos Polyzos (one of the home side’s best) and Dimitris Popovic who play on loan for Alekos Theodoridis’ outfit who made a very good impression.

Line-ups:

PAOK: Itandje (55′ Giakoumis), Skondras (46′ Tziolis), Spyropoulos, Katsikas, Pozatzidis (65′ Patralis), Tzandaris (65′ Toumanidis), Savvidis (65′ Pouggouras), Golasa (46′ Vítor), Pereyra (75′ Kakkos), Papadopoulos (65′ Kusta).

Eginiakos: Tolios, Τellos, Liolios, Arampatzis, Giatzizoglou, Machado, Polyzos, Zourkos, Naumcevski, Koutsospyros, Popovic.