PAOK wants to get out of Europe with a goal through Tripoli: Loucheskou’s plan for the double

On the first matchday of the second round of the regular season, PAOK will face Asteras Tripoli at Th. Kolokotronis (December 17th, 5:30 p.m., Novasports Prime, LIVE from Sportish).

With players’ confidence high, but also two key absences – as key players Zivkovic and Tyson remained in Thessaloniki – Razvan Lucescu’s team will look to continue their winning streak and add another three points to their collection in Tripoli.

Today is Zivkovic’s fourth game in a row. The Serb was excluded from the games with Lamia, Volos for the Cup and Helsinki. Today his absence becomes more intense as it coincides with that of Tyson, who was feeling unwell.

Lucescu’s plans for the game

Be that as it may, and with the options in the trio of attacking midfielders now counted out (Konstantelias, Murg, Despodov), PAOK are called upon to find solutions in attack in order to secure a victory that could prove decisive in the future venue , which is not particularly hospitable to the Thessaloniki team.

At the back, in front of Kotarski, Koulierakis, who did not play in the game against the Finns, and Kenziora, who played at right-back on Thursday, will return. Sastre, who was not on the Conference League group roster, and Baba, who has returned from injury, will line up at either end.

In midfield, Schwab and Ozdoev seem to have the edge, starting as a duo in the middle of the midfield and Ali Samata at the front of the attack. Behind the Tanzanian striker, Despontov will play on the right, Murg on the “ten” and Constantelias on the left.

Today’s game against Asteras is crucial for the future. And not just because PAOK only just stays at the top of the table with a win, but above all because all three competitors for the championship came through Tripoli victorious. It is even more important today not to lose points.