PAOK achieved their realistic goal against Marseille. He managed to qualify for the second game and play for the dream in front of his world in Toumba. Charlie analyzes what happened in Velodrome’s game.
Playing in the velodrome was not easy. The first half turned out to be a nightmare, but PAOK found a way and resolved the situation.
A climate of war developed that harmed PAOK
But let’s take things in stride. What happened on the streets of Marseille created an atmosphere that the people of Marseille did not expect.
The previous Conference League games did not generate much interest from the team’s friends. In fact, Jorge Sampaoli said that on the eve of the game “Our fans have shown their fondness for second place and direct qualification for the Champions League groups, but we have an opportunity to win the tournament and we have to try.”
A climate of war was unexpectedly created. It’s well known that Marseille fans aren’t the best of kids. Fatally, the atmosphere created became very difficult for a host team. Especially when he gets problems on the field and gets pressure or goals early on.
Marseille had all the heavyweights active in the first half
The conditions were really set for Marseille to make qualification clear from the first game. The fact that there was no VAR helped the hosts go ahead with a goal that probably wouldn’t count if examined through video.
PAOK struggled with significant problems in the first half. He could not move the ball and with great frequency allowed the Marseille players to pass it from Gentuzi – Gerson, but also involved Paget, Uder, Bacabou. In practice, Marseille had all their heavyweights in the game, ready to make the difference.
Paget’s goal was a magical moment. At PAOK they may be unlucky to have gone into half 2-0 up the middle after a goal rarely scored and another that most likely shouldn’t have been counted at VAR. But the truth is that the picture of the game was for 2-0.
Lucescu’s change turned the game
However, the second half showed how important it is to be a coaching team. Razvan Lucescu managed to stubbornly calm his team and helped him with his move.
The decision to have Tsigaras leave and Kantouri take his place came at a small risk. He made PAOK more aggressive and deprived them of a defensive midfield in an area where Marseille have players to change the game. But they gave him a creation and offered him an extra player in ball circulation.
I also wrote in my pre-game text that Marseille’s fault is that they don’t work aggressively when they have to score from the middle block and from below. He makes a few steals, is 18th in the league at just 8.4 per game, and has the fewest fouls of any team at just 9.1 per game. Something that PAOK was able to take advantage of when they won with the substitution of Lutsescu, a supreme creator, because they better managed and controlled the movement of the ball.
Finishing the game at Veldrom with 45% possession and 88% transfer accuracy is a great achievement. Numbers that prove PAOK played the game, in fact, they played it better creating a center that offered quality ball transfer. El Kantouri scored a great goal early in the second half and her cross gave PAOK confidence as it brought Augustos into the midfield duo, who were now in natural space and had a great second 45th minute.
This shortened PAOK, kept the ball and had a huge chance in which Akpom equalized in the 59th minute.
PAOK scored victories in the second half
In addition to what he achieved by holding the ball himself, he managed to win other battles. As mentioned above, all of Marseille’s weapons (Gerson, Gentuzi, Page, Uder, Bacabou) were active in the first 45 minutes. In the second half, PAOK scored victories. We didn’t see a substitution from Gerson, Gentuzi came on in the last ten minutes and in training the only one to cause cracks was Uder, who was a given that would be a nuisance for Vierinias.
Bacambu’s replacement helped
To be fair, PAOK’s defense was greatly aided by Sampaoli’s decision to change his forward at half-time. Bacabu was hard on Crespo and Ingasson. He pushed her, stole balls, turned his back, played on the field, it was a constant nuisance. The short Dieng was played very easily by PAOK’s defence. In fact, Marseille’s attack took nothing away from the striker throughout the second half. The truth is that PAOK eventually suffered.
Marseille have players, great personalities, in the last part of the game they managed to get PAOK in their area and beat him. Twice Paschalakis and important interventions from PAOK players at low meters kept the score at 2-1.
It won’t be an easy fight
Of course, the rematch is very difficult. PAOK passing that Marseille, these footballers are approaching the limits of a miracle. But next Thursday (April 14) it won’t be an easy game.
Lucescu and his players have a full week to prepare for the biggest European game in club history. For the first time PAOK is so close to the semi-finals of a European tournament and the most important thing is not to face a more difficult team from Marseille until the end.
If he kicks out Marseille, the way to the final is open. Opponents waiting for PAOK in the semifinals, that is, the winner of the Feyenoord – Slavia Prague duo, are significantly weaker teams than Marseille.
