Resilient PAOK overcome Olympiakos challenge
Resilient PAOK overcome Olympiakos challenge
By Athan,
The Champions absorbed pressure early but slowly worked themselves into the game mainly playing on the counter attack. Olympiakos created a few chances early, however, PAOK’s defence ensured that they were in offside positions.
PAOK did well to win free kicks in positions where Olympiakos players were committing unnecessary fouls, which would give the visitors breathing space and allow them to set up further up the field and prevent Olympiakos’ momentum.
This was led by PAOK’s midfielders in Diego Biseswar and Dimitris Limnios who won key fouls in good positions for the team in black and white.
PAOK’s goal came in the 29th minute from a set piece. Croatian midfielder Josip Misic proved why he has been PAOK’s most improved and important player throughout this campaign thus far. He has been brilliant both scoring and assisting in key moments throughout PAOK’s season to date and this continued with him setting up the goal for Ingason to tap in.
Ingason has stepped up alongside Angel Crespo with the absence of star defender Fernando Varela due to injury.
Coming into the encounter, many believed that PAOK’s inform Polish striker Karol Swiderski would be the difference in the top of the table clash, however, Swiderski struggled to have an impact on the derby, often finding himself isolated against Olympiakos’ back four.
This would have been like deja vu for the Olympiakos players, coaching staff and fans. Last season at the Karaiskakis Stadium, they were in a similar position where they were dominant but were caught against the run of play and conceded a cheap own-goal where they lost all three points on that occasion.
However, to Olympiakos credit this time they immediately bounced back and were on the front foot putting the PAOK midfield and defence under pressure. In the second half it was only a matter of time before it looked like Olympiakos would score with Ferreira’s men sitting so far back and looking to absorb more pressure. PAOK sat far too deep in the second half and failed to look dangerous on the counter, with the champions only creating two goal scoring chances in the second half.
A costly mistimed challenge from PAOK’s shining light this season at left-back Dimitris Giannoulis would see Olympiakos win a penalty which was converted calmly by Frenchman Mathieu Valbuena.
After that both teams had half chances to score but it remained 1-1.
PAOK will be satisfied with the point away from home which keeps them level on 29 points with Olympiakos on top of the Greek Super League standings.
The title looks like it will come down to these two clubs with both of these teams being 9 points clear of OFI in third place with 12 games played so far. Both of these title contenders will also be looking for transfer reinforcements in January in order to bolster their squads to achieve title winning success this season.
Hellas Football.
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