PAOK faced a 3-1 defeat against Galatasaray in Turkey in the opening match of the League Phase of the Europa League.
After a barren first half, misfortune struck for Abdul Rahman Baba (own goal in the 48′), followed by goals from Yunus Akgün (75′) and Mauro Icardi (90’+5′) for the hosts.
In between, Giannis Konstantelias (67′) temporarily equalized for Razvan Lucescu’s team.
The “Cim Bom” entered the match, as expected, with more intensity, but the “black and whites” were also particularly threatening on counterattacks. In fact, on three occasions, Konstantelias (7’), Andrija Zivkovic (9’), and Fedor Chalov (13’) were just a click away from converting their opportunities into goals in the first quarter.
During this period, the hosts saw the class of Victor Osimhen, who missed a header in the first few seconds and was denied moments later by Omar Kolai at the 16’ mark.
A wave of attacking plays from “Galata” followed. Initially, Dominik Kotarski saved Osimhen’s diagonal shot (25’) after a mistake by Yoni Oto, and in the continuation of the phase, the Croatian goalkeeper also responded to Gabriel Sara’s left-footed volley. The latter tried on two more occasions (27’, 33’) to find the net, but to no avail.
The half concluded with an “explosive” three-minute stretch. In the 43’, Akgün found the net from close range, but from the outside.
In the next minute, following a cross from center-back Abdulkerim Bardakci, Osimhen leapt high and with a header sent the ball just beside the left “window” of Kotarski’s goal, and in the first minute of stoppage time, Gunay Guvendik made a crucial save against Konstantelias, who broke behind the defense but failed to score.
What didn’t happen in the first half took place in the second. In the 47’, Barış Yılmaz broke through the defense after another long ball from Bardakci, but under pressure, he couldn’t beat Kotarski.
From the resulting corner taken by Dries Mertens, however, Osimhen got his head on the ball, and Baba, in his attempt to clear, got confused and sent the ball into his own net for 1-0.
The game picked up a frantic pace, with chances coming one after the other. Kotarski managed to rectify his earlier mistake in front of Osimhen (59’), while four minutes later, the Croatian goalkeeper made an incredible save against a close-range shot from the former Napoli star, keeping the score at 1-0.
Meanwhile, Konstantelias, on a counterattack, failed to pass the ball to either Bardakci, Zivkovic, or Chalov, who were waiting in front of Guvendik. However, the international Greek forward redeemed himself in the 67’, equalizing the match. Zivkovic saw Oto’s movement, the Spaniard made the cutback, Guvendik cleared, but Konstantelias struck immediately into the opposite corner for 1-1.
However, the joy of PAOK fans was short-lived, as in the 75’ the score changed to 2-1. From a cross from the right, the “Galata” players played… volleyball inside Kotarski’s area: Mertens got the first header, Osimhen the second, and the unmarked Akgün with a left-footed volley beat the PAOK goalkeeper, giving Okan Buruk’s team the lead again.
Icardi, upon entering the pitch, missed a header while in stoppage time, Guvendik saved a powerful shot from Oto. In the final play of the match, Icardi with a tremendous shot on the move, following a cutback from Kerem Demirbay, sealed the final score at 3-1.
The “Cim Bom” will host Riga in Latvia for the 2nd round of the League Phase (on October 3), while PAOK will welcome Steaua Bucharest at Tumba.
GALATASARAY (Okan Buruk): Guvendik, Ayhan (84’ Yelert), Sanchez, Bardakci, Jacobs, Sara, Torreira, Yilmaz (88’ Batshuayi), Mertens (78’ Demirbay), Akgün (88’ Kutlu), Osimhen (78’ Icardi).
PAOK (Razvan Lucescu): Kotarski, Oto, Keziot, Kolai, Baba, Ozdoev (77’ Schwab), Kamara (81’ Bakayoko), Zivkovic, Konstantelias (77’ Despontov), Tyson, Chalov (71’ Tisuntadli).
Andreas Chaniotakis