The game was by definition very difficult on paper. Young Boys are a very strong side, with quality players, and PAOK were prepared for a tough battle. In addition to being a demanding fixture, however, the game became … somewhat strange, as in one of the first phases of the match the visitors were reduced to 10 men. Gigovic committed an awful foul on Giakoumakis and the referee, after the intervention of the VAR, showed the Swiss side’s player a direct red card, instead of the yellow card, which he initially dished out.

PAOK’s players remained calm. The Swiss were pegged back in their own half time and again, while the routes towards the opponent’s goal were limited with the compact way that Young Boys played. Despodov twice got himself into good positions, but he could not finish his chances, while Kenny, Baba, Konstantelias, Giakoumakis and Vogliacco all had good chances, but the goal did not come and the teams went into the dressing rooms at half-time with the score locked on 0-0.

The goal in the second half for PAOK was to be patient until the goal came and that’s exactly what they did. The home side played their football, stuck to their plan and methodically searched and probed for the breakthrough goal. Despodov and Giakoumakis each passed up good opportunities, before Bianco provided the solution.

Konstantelias and Baba combined perfectly, the Ghanaian crossed the ball to the penalty spot and the on-rushing Italian timed his run perfectly to score with a perfect first-time finish to make it 1-0 in the 54th minute.

Konstantelias then released Meite after an excellent bit of play in the 59th minute, but the Frenchman failed to find the target. Lucescu then brought on Ozdoev and A. Zivkovic and they were the players who collaborated for the second goal. The Serb passed to the Russian and he in turn crossed for Giakoumakis , who made it 2-0 with an effort from close range in the 67th minute.

PAOK were unstoppable after that, while the Swiss defence collapsed and the score was extended further. In the 72nd minute it was Konstantelia’s turn to be crowned scorer, after an incredible team move and an assist from Zivkovic, while Baba wrote the game’s epilogue, after another magical team effort, with Kenny providing the assist for 4-0.

PAOK had two more great chances to extend their winning margin, with Zivkovic and Kenny both having excellent shots on goal, but Keller said «no» to both attempts with solid saves.

The final whistle saw the Toumba crowd celebrating another excellent victory, with PAOK moving on to seven points in the League Phase.

Team lineups:

PAOK: Tsiftsis, Baba, Michailides, Vogliacco, Kenny, Bianco (65′ Ozdoev), Meite, Taison (79′ Ivanusec), Konstantelias (79′ Pelkas), Despodov (62′ A. ​​Zivkovic), Giakoumakis (79′ Chalov).

Young Boys: Keller, Hadjam, Zoukrou, Virginius (46′ Monteiro), Janko (88′ Andrews), Cordoba (74′ Bedia), Fassnacht (74′ Colley), Lauper, Gigovic, Raveloson, Sanchez (66′ Pech).