Razvan Lucescu started with Pavlenka between the posts, Kenny, Taylor, Lovren and Kedziora in defense, Kamara with Meite as the central midfield duo, and Konstantelias , Despodov and Taison behind lone striker Chalov .

The two teams started the match strongly in rain-soaked conditions and immediately looked for an opening goal, with Asteras taking the lead early. After a lapse of concentration in the black and white’s defense, Macheda picked up possession in hte box and fired a low shot past Pavlenka for 1-0 in the seventh minute.

PAOK tried to react immediately, creating two chances with Taison and Chalov not able to find the target. But a goal was soon to come, with Despodov slotting home from the penalty spot in te 21st minute after he had been fouled by Fernandes.

The goal gave PAOK’s players a boost and six minutes later the turnaround came. Konstantelias took possession of the ball outside the penalty area, worked himself some space and made it 2-1 to thevisitors with a perfect, low finish.

In the 29th minute Asteras had a double chance to score, with Pavlenka making two great saves, first from a header by Macheda and then from a powerful shot by Munoz. In the 33rd minute, PAOK won a second penalty when Fernandes struck Chalov in the face with his hand, as both challenged for an aerial ball. The Russian took the kick and scored for 3-1.

Asteras tried to react, and the rain came down even heavier, and just before the end of the first half, the score changed again. More specifically, in stoppage time, Macheda fired i na shot which Pavlenka saved, but Emmanouilidis was there to score on the rebound for 3-2.

The start of the second half did not have the same intensity of the first, with PAOK trying to control the pace. The first chance came in the 62nd minute, when A. Zivkovic, who had replaced Taison, entered the penalty area and sent a scuffed shot wide.

In the 74th minute, Asteras scored a third goal to level the match. Bartolo had the initial shot, the ball rebounded and ended up at the feet of Gioacchini, who beat Pavlenka .

PAOK immediately tried to regain the lead, but Konstantelia’s shot on the move went wide. PAOK pressed for a winning goal asthe clock ticked down, and had many good moments with Konstantelias , Ivanusec, Lovren, and Giakoumakis but the visitors failed to convert any of them into goals and unfortunately the 3-3 scoreline was how the match ended.

Team lineups:

Asteras AKTOR: Papadopoulos, Pomonis, Fernandes, Ivanov, Sipcic, Mumo, Eder (63′ Bartolo), Alagbe (70′ Almyras), Kaltsas (85′ Charalamboglou), Emmanouilidis (85′ Ketou), Makeda (63′ Joaquini).

PAOK: Pavlenka, Kenny, Kedziora, Lovren, Taylor, Meite, Kamara (53′ Ozdoev), Konstandelias, Despodov (70′ Ivanushec), Taison (53′ A. Zivkovic), Chalov (70′ Giakoumakis).