A tough away match as PAOK aims for a comeback!
The “Double-Headed Eagle of the North” faces Anderlecht tonight (9:30 p.m.) in Brussels at “Lotto Park,” looking to overturn last week’s 1-0 loss in Thessaloniki and secure a spot in the Europa League playoffs.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Taha Ali and Pavlenka walked through the operating room door
PAOK: The next conversation that will determine Michailidis’s future
In the first leg at Toumba Stadium, and following their two victories (3-2 on the road and 2-0 at home) against Dynamo Kyiv in the previous round, PAOK was caught off guard and conceded a goal just 17 seconds after kickoff; while they subsequently took control of the game, but struggled with creativity and the final pass, creating chances but failing to find the equalizer.
Their biggest missed opportunity came in the 36th minute, when Michailidis failed to convert the penalty kick earned by Konstantelias, nor were they able to break through their opponent’s well-organized defense in the second half, which consistently sat back in its own half and did not manage a single shot on Pavlenka’s goal.
On the field, PAOK will be forced to seek a comeback without Konstantelias, who did not travel with the rest of the squad to Belgium due to a serious family matter that arose at the last minute. Meanwhile, Ali, Despodov, and Meité remain sidelined due to injuries.
On the other hand, Anderlecht overcame Swedish side Hammarby in the previous qualifying round of the Europa League; after a 1-1 away draw in the first leg, they won 3-1 at home. In fact, last Sunday (August 9), they also kicked off the Belgian league season with a 2-1 victory over La Louvière. Although they fell behind in the 54th minute, they took advantage of having an extra player on the field starting in the 59th minute and turned the game around, with goals by Nga in the 69th minute and Bertaccini in the 90th+2 minute.
The referee for tonight’s match will be Italian Simone Sosa, who will be assisted by his compatriots Stefano Alasio and Dario Cecconi. The fourth official is Matteo Marchetti, and the VAR officials are also Italians: Gianluca Aureliano and Matteo Gariglio.
We remind you that if PAOK ultimately qualifies, they will face Kairat Almaty from Kazakhstan in the Europa League playoffs, while if they are eliminated, they will face the Norwegian team Brann in the final qualifying round of the Conference League.
*photo source: KYPE
