Lucescu’s first thoughts on PAOK’s derby with Aris

PAOK continues its preparation for the derby with Aris in “Kl. Vikelidis” (September 4th, 9:30 p.m., NOVASPORTS, LIVE Sportish), which is an important test for Razvan Lucescu’s team after the two home games in a row against Panaitolikos and Atromitos.

So far, Dikefalos has proved well organized in the first two games of the league, his players almost completely fulfilling their coach’s plan. He was solid, pressing off the ball, with rational development and good circulation on possession.

The conditions in an away game, with the peculiarities that games with Aris always have, can be very different and the Romanian coach and his players have to react to that.

Lyratzis influences possible changes

Whether there will be changes in the formation PAOK will play with depends on Lefteris Lyratzis’ readiness. The young full-back, who did not feature in the last game against Atromitos, intensified his game ahead of Sunday’s derby while training on Thursday (1/9).

If he convinces Razvan Lucescu that he is 100% ready, he will start at the right end of Dikephalos’ defence, where Vieirinha played on Sunday. In such a case, the PAOK captain is likely to move to the left, with Marios Tsaoussi being the one who loses his place in the starting XI.

From then on, unless something unexpected happens, Lucescu doesn’t have many reasons to make changes, since the formation was as efficient as possible with the three midfielders – in the absence of the “cent” demanded by the PAOK coach – and the trio in attack with Zivkovic, Narey on the wings and Brandon Thomas up front proved himself in the last game against Panaitolikos.