PAOK started the match fully aware of the tough challenge that they would face, managed to take the lead, but a sucker-punch equalizer at the end of the first half from the home side turned the momentum to the Spaniards, who then scored twice in the second half to take the victory.

The home team had the first good moment of the match with Rueda, but Pavlenka saved the Celta man’s header. The Double-headed Eagle failed to pose a real threat in the first quarter of the game, while Marcos Alonso saw Pavlenka save his attempt on goal in the 17th minute. The Czech goalkeeper was there again for the visitors in the 34th minute, when Rueda again threatened but Pavlenka stopped his shot, producing an impressive save.

PAOK did find a route to the home side’s goal and managed to take the lead in the 37th minute. Konstantelias stole possession high up the pitch, surged into the penalty area and fired in a shot that was saved by Radou, but Giakoumakis was on hand to slot home the rebound to make it 1-0.

The Double-headed Eagle seemed to be taking control of the match, but in the last phase of the first half, Mingueza sent over a cross, which Aspas met with his head to score and make it 1-1.

The second half, with Celta boosted by their equalizer, started in the worst possible way for PAOK. Pavlenka denied Swedberg’s initial shot in a one-on-one situation in the 53rd minute, but Borja Iglesias ws on hand to score from the rebound to make it 2-1 to the hosts.

Konstantelias tried to level the game, but his finish went wide of Radu’s post, and in the 70th minute Celta killed off the game with a third goal, with Swedberg again going one-on-one with Pavlenka and this time beating the helpless visiting goalkeeper to make it 3-1.

PAOK tried to get back into the game in the 81st minute with Chalov missing a header after a cross from Andrija Zivkovic , but the score remained unchanged up until the final whistle.

Team lineups:

Celta: Radu, Alonso, Starfelt, Fernandez, Mingueza (67′ Dominguez), Rueda (84′ J. Rodriguez), Moriba, Rodriguez, Aspas (75′ Zaragoza), Swedberg (75′ Duran), Iglesias (67′ Jutgla).

PAOK: Pavlenka, Baba, Sastre, Michailides, Vogliacco (74′ Kedziora), Bianco (61′ Meite), Ozdoev, Kamara (70′ Taison), Konstantelias, Despodov (70′ A. Zivkovic), Giakoumakis (61′ Chalov).