PAOK closed the first half with an emphatic 0–3 against Lille, having played a magical and highly productive game.

The score was opened in the 18th minute by Soualiho Meïté, who found the net against his former team. Five minutes later, in the 23rd minute, Andrija Živković doubled the “Double-headed eagle’s” goals, giving a significant safety lead.

Finally, shortly before the end of the half, in the 42nd minute, Giannis Konstantelias completed PAOK’s party, scoring a stunning goal and shaping the triumphant 0–3.

The lineups

LILLE: Ozer, Mandi, Ngoy, Santos, Verdonk, Ragoubert, André, Sahraoui, Correia, Fernandes-Pardo, Igamane.

PAOK: Tsiftsis, Michailidis, Kędziora, Baba, Kenny, Meïté, Camara, Konstantelias, Živković, Despodov, Chalov.

After its derby victories in the Super League, PAOK faces tonight (23/10, 22:00) yet another major competitive challenge — this time abroad — as, within the framework of Matchday 3 of the League Phase of the UEFA Europa League, it is hosted at “Stade Pierre-Mauroy” by the ambitious Lille.

PAOK has traveled to France in excellent spirits. Razvan Lucescu’s team escaped from its negative streak of results, winning two consecutive derbies — 2–1 (63’ Taison, 75’ pen. Andrija Živković – 22’ Tiquinho) against Olympiacos in Toumba and 2–0 (45’ Abdul Rahman Baba, 48’ Giannis Konstantelias) against AEK in Nea Filadelfeia — rising to the top of the Super League with 17 points (5-2-0 with 11-5 goals) after seven matches.

In Europe, however, things have not gone equally well so far. The “black-and-whites” in their opener conceded a “goalless” draw to Maccabi Tel Aviv in Toumba, while afterwards, although they took the lead, they were defeated 3–1 (45’+2’ Iago Aspas, 53’ Borja Iglesias, 70’ Villo Sandberg – 37’ Giorgos Giakoumakis) by Celta in Vigo. Apart from Jiří Pavlenka, Lucescu faces no other problems, with Antonis Tsiftsis worthily replacing the Czech goalkeeper.

PAOK will line up with four changes compared to the match against AEK.
The lineup: Tsiftsis, Michailidis, Kędziora, Baba, Kenny, Meïté, Camara, Konstantelias, Živković, Despodov, Chalov.

On the other hand, Bruno Genesio’s team has also returned, like PAOK, full of appetite after the domestic-competition break for the national-team obligations. The “foals” prevailed 2–0 over Nantes at the “Beaujoire,” within Matchday 8 of Ligue 1, thanks to goals by Hákon Arnar Haraldsson (8’) and Hamza Igamane (89’). Thus, Lille reached 14 points (4-2-2 with 16-10 goals) and 6th place, four points behind leaders Marseille.

In the Europa League, the “Lillois” have two wins in as many matches. First, they prevailed 2–1 (54’ Hamza Igamane, 80’ Olivier Giroud – 59’ Savar Atli Magnusson) over Brann at the otherwise-called “Decathlon Arena,” while afterwards they came away victorious from the “Olimpico,” beating Roma 1–0 thanks to a goal by Haraldsson as early as the 6th minute. The 22-year-old Icelandic attacking midfielder, together with his peer, the Moroccan striker Igamane, have each scored four (4) goals so far, followed by the… veteran Giroud with three (3), with the “Lillois” displaying attacking variety — and even having Kylian Mbappé’s brother, Ethan.

Referee of the match has been appointed the Montenegrin Nikola Dabanović. He will be assisted by his compatriots Vladan Todorović and Srđan Jovanović as assistant referees, while fourth official will be Miloš Bošković.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is Michele Fabbri (Italy) and Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR) is Federico La Pena (Italy).

Under the posts for PAOK starts Antonis Tsiftsis.

In the defensive quartet, the center-back roles are taken by Giannis Michailidis and Tomasz Kędziora. On the defensive flanks, Jonjoe Kenny is on the right and Abdul Rahman Baba on the left.

In central midfield, the duo consists of Mady Camara and Soualiho Meïté, with Giannis Konstantelias operating in a more advanced role as the main playmaker.

The attacking trio is made up of Andrija Živković and Kiril Despodov on the wings, while Fyodor Chalov is at the tip of the attack.