PAOK – Benfica 2-1: PAOKara are you crazy – Champions League

An amazing PAOK, in the second 45 minutes of the match with Benfica, knew how to subdue the Portuguese by imposing 2-1 and qualify for the Champions League playoffs where they will face them in double games Krasnodar by Marcus Berg at 22 and 30 September. In these two matches, PAOK will claim their place in the gold groups for the first time in their history.

The Thessaloniki team played exceptionally in the second half, had Zivko Zivkovic and Giannoulis, Varela, Swab on a great day, while Andrija Zivkovic, who entered the second half, took revenge on his former team with the goal he scored and which started from the terrible action of the Greek back.

1. ZIVKO ZIVKOVIC SUBJECT

In the first half, Benfica was superior, they had dominance, they did what they wanted on the pitch with PAOK to have given them space and to accept the attacks of the Portuguese. The Thessalonians, however, had Zivko Zivkovic on a great day. The Serbian goalkeeper who has taken on a basic jersey this season, having left Paschalakis on the bench, played his best game in the bicep jersey. It turned out that he went to PAOK’s house with amazing operations. He was stable, had good reactions on foot and was lucky with his part in the lack of Pizzi who found his right crossbar. In this phase, however, Zivkovic reacted and almost touched the ball.

While in the second half he was able to keep zero in the Portuguese’s greatest moment in 57 ‘when Everton came out in a four-on-four position with the Serbian goalkeeper chasing again in a corner.

2. WITH OCCUPATION YOU DO NOT WIN THE MATCHES

Possession in the first half was overwhelmingly in favor of Benfica. The Portuguese had more than 70% possession but never a team with only possession wins games. The Portuguese were talkative in the final action. PAOK were defending adequately and were able to neutralize most of the risks with all the players on the Thessaloniki team having an excellent performance keeping zero on defense.

3. GIANNOULIS FOR TRANSFER

PAOK understood in the second half that to claim victory / classification they had to go up, play football and threaten in turns. The hosts, led by Giannoulis, who made an appearance for a big transfer, were able to perform on the field. He got the ball to his feet, of course he was careful on defense and hit when he had to. He initially threatened Swab and Jolie.

The hosts were able to take the lead on the scoreboard when in 63 ‘Giannoulis made a vertical move, opening the right moment for Akpom, who turned the ball back to Giannoulis who chased the phase, with Vertonhen trying to cut the ball and to send it to your computer networks.

4. THE PREVIOUS REVENGE

On 67 ‘, the PAOK coach made a play that helped his team reach the second goal. He took out Pelkas, who also had a first-half card, and replaced him with Andrija Zivkovic, who had more motivation to play against his former team.

At the same time, Jorge Jesos threw into the game what he had best on his bench. But it was PAOK who scored the second goal. Giannoulis took the ball off the defense, made an incredible run and gave Andrija Zivkovic the right moment. He did the energy and the shot with the left with the ball finishing in the nets of Vlachodimos.

PAOK was then logical to try to keep the score in favor and fell a little behind. He managed to hold the pressure with Crespo leading the Thessaloniki team’s defense in the final minutes. The only thing the Portuguese achieved was to reduce to 90 + 4 ‘with a header from Rafa Silva. A goal that was not enough to change the historical classification in favor of the PAOK team.

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