PAOK, a team in the truest sense of the word, raced through Tripoli like the wind

PAOK showed one of its mature performances this season and overtook the traditionally difficult Tripoli by winning at “Th. Kolokotronis” scored four goals for the first time.

The basic premise in selecting Razvan Lucescu did not change. The Dikefalos coach lined up his team with six changes compared to the previous game, with a different four in defense – Kenziora started again, but this time as a stopper rather than a full-back -, with a different duo in midfield and with another Striker in the attack line.

However, the most noticeable difference from previous games was the failures he had to contend with. Without Andrija Zivkovic, the best scorer of the season, and Tyson, the best assist player, PAOK, to win from Tripoli, had to show character, once again, as often this season, highlight other protagonists and get what he was more than capable of all his players.

Lucescu’s team covered all of these requirements and more…

Main characters; Out with the… bag. First and best was Tomas Murg, who scored two goals (the second time he scored twice in a league game) and six and Andrija Živkovic was among Dicefalos’ top scorers in the league.

The Austrian, who has scored a total of 7 goals and an assist, is having his most productive season with PAOK and also supported his team’s defensive function by running a lot across the length and breadth of the field.

Close by and Kirill Despodov, who felt he had thrown off the spells that had previously prevented him from being effective. Two goals and the Bulgarian, who scores again in the league after scoring in the game against Panserraikos, showing that he is gradually adapting to his coach’s wishes.

Ali Samata, who is still not doing well as a goalscorer, but had the incredible assist in today’s game, making it 2-0 for Despodov and was involved in all three games^The his team’s goal by catching the ball due to a mistake by Alvarez.

There was also a rising star in Tripoli: Stefanos Dzima imitated Ali Samata and, just a few minutes after his arrival, passed brilliantly to Despodov, who made it 4-1.

He showed winning character

PAOK also showed character in two crucial points of the game. First at the start of the game when Asteras had good chances to take the lead with shots from Munafo and Kalcha as well as Alagbe’s post.

His players did not “chew”, took control of the ball and did not allow Arcades another chance in the entire first half, apart from a counterattack that they allowed in the 25th minute when Murg was the one to pass the ball Zougli cleared weak effort.

In a stadium where last year there was a 2-0 draw because two goals were conceded after 90 minutes – of course an offside that no one saw – Dikefalos remained unperturbed, even when the home team missed a mistake Kotarski temporarily reduced the score to 2:1. Once again they remained in control and, believing in their plan, managed to achieve an easy victory with a convincing and, above all, serious demeanor.

Above all, the team

But the most important thing of all that Lucescu’s team presented in Tripoli was that it once again functioned as a team with… tiny capital. With Constantelia being so consistent in his blocking duties for perhaps the first time and helping Koulierakis develop out of the back zone after Rastavac’s players had completed their lines well, the Romanian coach got the best out of his group of players.

The Romanian coach, hoarse at the end, explained that a necessary prerequisite for a team’s success is that its players subordinate themselves to the good of the whole. And this appears to be further evidence presented by his own team.

Only one game remains, this one against Kifissia in Athens, to complete Dikefalos’ playing commitments for 2023. PAOK already have 7 wins in a row in all competitions and if there are 8, they will ideally have completed the year. However, he has to appear as mature in front of the new arrivals as he did today in Tripoli.