Aberdeen v PAOK in Europa Conference League: Greek side show Dons way forward
- Published
Konstantinos Koulierakis is already a key player for Greece at the age of 19
Europa Conference League, Group G: Aberdeen v PAOK |
|---|
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen Date: Thursday, 26 October Kick-off: 20:00 BST |
Coverage: Listen on BBC Sounds & BBC Radio Scotland, plus follow live on the BBC Sport website & app |
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has been happy to discuss his objectives for the club. Be it getting closer to Celtic and Rangers domestically or becoming a top 100 club in Europe, the Dons' Europa Conference League visitors this week are a pretty good example of what can be achieved with some ambition.
PAOK are a highly motivated football club, from the boardroom to the vibrant stands inside their Toumba lair as they battle on all fronts seeking success at home and abroad.
The three-time Greek champions proved that by bringing back their most recent title-winning manager, Razvan Lucescu, in 2021 after the Romanian's short spell in Saudi Arabia. They sit joint second, just three points behind Athens powerhouse Olympiakos, and have made a 100% start to their Europa Conference League campaign.
Panthessalonikios Athlitikos Omilos Konstantinoupoliton, to give them their full name, is a mouthful and they are very likely to be handful for Aberdeen on Thursday when the sides meet at Pittodrie on match-day three in Group G.
Just ask Heart of Midlothian. The Edinburgh side were unceremoniously dumped out in the qualifiers 6-1 on aggregate. Despite a promising first-leg showing at Tynecastle, Hearts could not live with the Greeks in the second leg at their infamous Toumba Stadium, where the Dons will head in a fortnight.
PAOK are currently on a run of just one defeat in their last 16 matches.
They were quarter-finalists in this competition two seasons ago before they were beaten by Marseille and it was because of that stellar showing that they were so disappointed to exit in the second qualifying round last term at the hands of Bulgarians Levski Sofia. They are keen to make up for that showing.
That eagerness was there for all to see as they defeated 2022 Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt on match-day two in Thessaloniki.
An exceptionally tight offside call against striker Mbwana Samatta, after a VAR review, only denied them for so long before Hearts' tormentor Andrija Zivkovic opened the scoring from a free-kick cross that evaded everyone, including Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. Jonny Hayes scored a replica for Aberdeen at St Mirren at the end of August.
A rare error from young Greece centre-back Konstantinos Koulierakis allowed the Germans in for an equaliser, although he would redeem himself with the winner in added time. It was quite the moment for the 19-year-old.
On loan from Benfica, French midfielder Soualiho Meite will miss the game after his red card late on in that match as they made it two wins from two to take command of the group.
Aberdeen's hopes of European football in the spring probably rely on them winning this game, having collected just one point from their opening two matches.
PAOK will be one of the most accomplished sides to visit Pittodrie in recent years and carry threats right across the front areas. Their biggest dangers will be Zivkovic and Brazilian winger Taison, a veteran of more than 40 appearances in the Champions League during his eight-year spell at Shakhtar Donetsk.
As well as the towering Koulierakis, there are other exciting talents emerging at Greece's 'Double-Headed Eagle of the North'.
Twenty-year-old attacking midfielder Giannis Konstantelias looks to have a terrific future, with Barcelona and Chelsea credited with an interest. He scored PAOK's fourth in the second leg against Hearts and is one to watch.
Zivkovic is the star turn though. He was outstanding at Tynecastle in particular and played his part in helping Serbia to the cusp of Euro 2024 with victory over Montenegro.
Aberdeen's Serbian-born centre-back Slobodan Rubezic watched that from the stands in his home city of Belgrade having just been called up by Montenegro after switching allegiances.
Coach Lucescu, who had a stint in charge of Al Hilal before they were signing the likes of Neymar and Aleksandar Mitrovic, will have a burning desire for success.
His father is Mircea Lucescu, one of Europe's most decorated managers. Currently in charge of Dynamo Kyiv, the 78-year-old won eight Ukrainian titles with Shakhtar as well as one at his current club, which added to the leagues he conquered in Turkey, with Galatasaray and Beskitas, and in his homeland with Dinamo Bucharest.
In 2019, Razvan himself led PAOK to their first Greek championship in 34 years and they continue to fight the three behemoths from the capital; Olympiakos, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens.
As Aberdeen prepare for one of their biggest games of the season so far and dream of the day when they challenge the big two from Glasgow for the Scottish title once more, the example of PAOK would not be the worst place to start looking for inspiration.
Our coverage of Aberdeen is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment