All square between PAOK and AEK in Athens
All square between PAOK and AEK in Athens
SUPER LEAGUE PLAYOFFS - MATCHDAY 9
PAOK remain in the driving seat for second place in the Super League after their crucial playoffs derby clash with rivals AEK ended in a goalless draw at the Olympic Stadium in Athens on Wednesday.
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Abel Ferreira’s deposed champions came closest to winning the Derby of the Double-headed Eagles when substitute Miroslav Stoch hit the crossbar in the 86th minute.
Both chances had decent chances in a tense match which was littered with fouls, especially in the first half, but in the end Massimo Carrera’s AEK were unable to enforce their gameplan on a well-organised PAOK side.
The result means that PAOK remain three points clear of AEK, with the Kitrinomavri traveling to Piraeus to face champions Olympiacos in their final playoffs match on Sunday, while PAOK host local rivals Aris.
THE MATCH
This match was billed as the match of the season ahead of kick off with AEK and PAOK squaring off essentially in a duel for the second place in the Champions League qualifiers.
For PAOK, coming into this game the theme of their preparations was ‘what a difference a week can make’. In the midst of poor form and looking down and out in the race for second, a successful appeal against a seven-point deduction brought the club back from the brink.
That was followed by a massive victory away to Olympiacos on Sunday and suddenly the Thessaloniki side were favorites again ahead of this match against an AEK side who felt that they still had what it takes to get the job done.
The Kitrinomavri have been extremely solid in the playoffs and their form was cause for optimism going into this match as the home side looked to repeat their victory over PAOK in Thessaloniki from two weeks ago.
The start of the game was characterised by scrappy play and some niggly fouls, with neither side able to find their rhythm. The home side had the first opportunity, a half-chance on 15 minutes. Marko Livaja found himself in space in the penalty area as he tried to atch on to a long ball over the top, but the Croatian’s control let him down and PAOK goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis easily gathered the ball.
The next sight of goal came for AEK after 29 minutes when Petros Mantalos rose to meet a free-kick from Livaja, but the Kitrinomavri skipper headed well over the crossbar.
A minute later and PAOK opened the scoring through Akpom, but unfortunately for the visitors, the English striker’s effort was ruled out for a foul by the PAOK striker on AEK’s Ukrainian defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy.
The play continued to be interrupted by fouls committed by both sides in what was a tense affair, but AEK did get another chance before half-time when Nenad Krsticic played in Nelson Olveira. However, the Portuguese failed to bring the ball under control and the chance went begging.
In the second half it was PAOK who grew in confidence and began to control possession more and fashion openings, and the Dikefalos tou Vorra should really have been ahead ater spurning two opportunities in two minutes.
First it was Christos Tziolis who went close, the young striker working himself space just outside the penalty area and firing a powerful shot inches wide of AEK goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas’ right post..
Then, a few moments later Mauricio found himself with plenty of time and space to try his luck from long range, and the Brazilian’s shot shaved the left post on its way behind for a goal kick.
AEK were struggling to get hold of the ball and PAOK continued to pose a threat, with young defender Giannis Michailidis next to have an effort on goal, but his shot from the left channel was saved well by Barkas.
AEK finally managed to carve out an opportunity on 61 minutes, when Mantalos unlocked the PAOK defence with a brilliant pass for Daniele Varde, but the Italian was thwarted by PAOK ‘keeper Paschalakis’ save.
In the 71st minute AEK had claims for a penalty turned down when Swiderski challenged Mantalos. It did not seem that there had been a foul, which a VAR review also confirmed.
Carrera also brought on Sergio Araujo and in the last 20 minutes of the match it was AEK who looked the most dangerous side as they desperately sought a goal that would put them back in the driving seat in the race for second place, but whatever they threw at the PAOK defence, the visitors were equal to it.
Paschalakis caused a few hearts to race in the PAOK dugout on 84 minutes when he came out to punch a cross and the ball bounced off Araujo, but then PAOK went down the other end and hit the crossbar through substitute Stoch, with the Slovakian inches away from giving his team all three points.
The final throes of the match saw more niggly fouls and no clear chances, with PAOK holding on comfortably for a vital point.
STARTING LINEUPS
AEK: 1 Barkas (Gk), 3 Lopes, 4 Oikonomou, 6 Krsticic, 8 Simoes, 10 Livaja, 18 Oliveira, 19 Chygrynskyy, 20 Mantalos, 24 Svarnas, 27 Paulinho
PAOK: 31 Paschalakis (Gk), 2 Rodrigo, 6 Mihaj, 5 Varela, 8 Mauricio, 21 Biseswar, 23 Giannoulis, 24 Esiti, 47 Akpom, 49 Michailidis, 68 Tzolis
Image Source: sport-fm.gr
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