Super League, PAOK – Olympiacos 2-3: Huge “double” and top for the “red and whites”

Olympiacos was the big winner in the derby of the 11th matchday in Toumba. The “red and white” passed through Thessaloniki against PAOK, winning 3-2 with Kostoulas (32′), El Kaabi (50′) and Zelson Martins (69′), at the moment when the “Two-Headed of the North” tried to reacted with Baba (59′) and Carmo’s own goal (81′).

Thus, the “team” of Jose Luis Mediliber goes to the interruption of the championship for the obligations of the national teams as the leader in the standings, with “roommates” AEK and Aris, on 21 points. On the contrary, Razvan Lucescu’s team fell from second place to 4th with 20 points, while Panathinaikos follows on 19.

Excellent pace and “black and white” opportunities

The game started with PAOK having the initiative of the movements. The “black and white” looked for the quick goal and missed some big chances in the first few minutes. The first threat came in the 6th minute with Despontov, who couldn’t take advantage of Pirola’s miscue and shot wide from close range.

Two minutes later it was Tomas’ turn to threaten Tzolakis’ goal, as he took on Retsos, he entered the area, but the shot he made from a lateral position did not find the target and ended up out, while in the 11th minute the goalkeeper of Piraeus reacted correctly to Živković’s turn from the left and in front of Tomas.

“Red and white” reaction and lead

From that point on, Olympiacos reacted and took control of the match. Jose Luis Mendiliber’s men took control in midfield and threatened Kotarski’s goal.

In the 16th minute, the first big chance for Piraeus was recorded, when Zelson Martins crossed from the left, Kostoulas took the header, Kotarski saved and then Lovren countered the Greek forward’s shot, with the ball takes a corner.

From the execution, Carmo took the first header, Costinia the second, but El Kaabi did not have time to get on the path of the ball. In the next minute, the guests arrived again with claims in the PAOK area, but Zeslon Martins’ shot from the height of the area was countered.

The “red and whites” continued to press and in the 24th minute Kostoulas missed the opportunity to open the scoring, as the shot he made from inside the area went wide and in the next minute, El Kaabi was unable to beat Kotarski from contact, with the Croatian to defeat him in four-a-four. In the 27th minute came another threat for the Piraeus, with Lovren taking the… bite out of… El Kaabi’s mouth.

The warning… shots of Olympiakos did not… wake up the hosts and so, in the 32nd minute, Kostoulas made history, as he became the youngest scorer of Piraeus in the league. Chiquinho was the one who played the ball to the Greek forward, he moved nicely in the “back” of the PAOK defense and beat Kotarski with a header for the visitors’ 1-0.

The “Two-Headed of the North” tried to regain control of the match and looked for a goal before half-time, but in the 44th minute Tyson’s shot was against Retso and then Zivkovic’s new shot from inside the area went wide.

El Kaabi “froze” Toumba

In the second half, Razvan Lucescu wanted to make his team more aggressive and for this reason, he brought on Constantelia, Kamara and Tisundali, in place of Despontov, Bakayoko and Thomas, respectively. In fact, “Two-Headed” lost a chance in the 47th minute with Tyson’s shot that was blocked by Tzolakis.

But, three minutes later, Olympiacos “froze” Toumba even more. It was the 50th minute when Mouzakitis passed to Zelson Martins, he made a cross into the “heart” of PAOK’s defense, El Kaabi got between Lovren and Koley and beat Kotarski with his “nose” for 2-0.

Then, the “black and white” tried to react, they missed another opportunity with Tyson, whose header went wide in the 55th minute, while three minutes later, Kostoulas was unable to beat Kotarski with a header, as the Croatian goalkeeper blocked.

“Black and white” return and “red and white” response

However, in the next minute, PAOK again entered the contest. Constantelias made a tremendous effort from the axis, gathered the entire defense of the “red and whites” on him, after a counter the ball reached Baba, who opposite Tzolakis reduced 2-1 with a beautiful place.

The “black and white” wanted to take advantage of the… momentum they had in the match and pushed for the equalizing goal, but they left many open spaces in their defense. Thus, they “paid” for it in the 69th minute after a tragic mistake. Živković wanted to turn to Otto, the ball found his back, reached Ciquinho, who saw the movement of Gelson Martins and the latter with a beautiful place from the height of the area made it 3-1.

In fact, in the 73′, Piraeus came close to another goal, when El Kaabi went on the counterattack, did not pass to the unmarked Masoura on the left, made the shot from the height of the area and Kotarski blocked.

In the final minutes, PAOK increased their pressure for the second goal that would put them back in the match and succeeded in the 81st minute with… the help of Karmos. Živkovic crossed from the right, the Angolan defender wanted to clear, but he found the ball, which changed course and ended up in the home of Tzolakis for 3-2.

The “black and white” made a last ditch effort to equalize, but in the 90′ ​​Constantelia’s shot did not cause a problem for Tzolakis, while in the 93′ Schwab’s header went wide.

However, the match ended with two threats for Olympiakos, when in 94′ El Kaabi caught the shot, but Kotarski blocked, while in 96′ Masoura’s strong shot from the height of the area went wide, in the last phase of the derby .

Referee: Sven Jablonski (Germany)

Yellow: Bakayoko, Kamara – Carmo.

PAOK (Razvan Lucescu): Kotarski, Baba, Koley, Lovren, Otto, Ozdoev (74′ Schwab), Bakayoko (46′ Kamara), Zivkovic, Tyson (78′ Chalov), Despodov (46′ Constantelias), Brandon (46′ Tisundali).

Olympiakos (Jose Luis Mediliber): Tzolakis, Garthia (74′ Stamenic), Karmo, Retsos, Kostinia, Mouzakitis (65′ Ese), Kostoulas (65′ Masouras), Pirola (84′ Apostolopoulos), Tsiquinho, Martins, El Kaabi.

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