THESSALONIKI, Greece — On a brisk Sunday evening at a raucous Toumba Stadium, PAOK turned around an early deficit to claim a stirring 2-1 victory over rivals Olympiakos Piraeus, asserting their intent in the Super League title race behind match-winning performances from Andrija Zivković and Taison.

PAOK, who entered the clash trailing Olympiakos by two points in the standings, found themselves chasing the game after conceding a 22nd-minute opener. Chiquinho, Olympiakos’s dynamic midfielder, finished off a swift move, latching onto Ayoub El Kaabi’s clever assist to silence the home faithful.

For much of the first half, Olympiakos’s structure frustrated the hosts. The visitors’ pressing led to hurried passes and allowed Olympiakos a foothold, though chances remained scarce for both sides. Olympiakos registered only five shots, with a solitary effort on target and just one corner. PAOK were even more economical—three shots all evening, two on goal—but it was their ruthlessness after the interval that tilted the scales.

Turning Point After the Break

Răzvan Lucescu’s halftime adjustments proved crucial. PAOK emerged with renewed intent after the restart, and the contest began to tilt. A sequence of crisp, purposeful passing in the 63rd minute saw Zivković drift inside, threading a precise ball to Taison. With a single deft touch, the Brazilian midfielder rifled home the equalizer, lifting PAOK and igniting Toumba Stadium.

The home side’s resurgence was not without adversity. In the 83rd minute, Giorgos Giakoumakis thought he had found a fairytale winner, only for his goal to be disallowed for a foul, a decision that momentarily deflated the PAOK faithful.

But the energy did not dissipate, nor did PAOK’s pressure. Their reward came in the 75th minute, when persistent attacking work forced a penalty. Zivković, cool under pressure, hammered home from the spot, capping a personal display defined by creativity and nerve. The Serbian playmaker’s contributions directly affected both PAOK goals—a telling measure of his influence on this landmark night.

A Testy, Tactical Contest

Both teams finished with yellow cards—Olympiakos with two cautions in the first half, PAOK with three in a chippy second half that underscored the fierce historical rivalry between these powerhouses. Olympiakos’s Giulian Biancone and Daniel Podence found their names in the book before halftime, as did PAOK’s Tomasz Kędziora. The second half grew testier, culminating in a series of bookings that reflected the rising stakes and nerves on both benches.

PAOK managed possession by a slender margin, at 53%, marginally outpassing their opponents with 211 completed passes to 187, each team hovering at around 68% accuracy. The statistics illustrated a match of fine margins—limited chances, but heightened drama at every turn.

Goalkeepers Jiří Pavlenka and Konstantinos Tzolakis were rarely troubled, with only three shots on target combined all evening. Yet the lack of spectacle did not diminish the sense of occasion. A single moment of sharpness or error, it was clear, would decide this contest—and so it proved.

Broader Implications

The victory propels PAOK back into the upper echelon of the Super League, now level with Olympiakos, and reasserts their credentials in a campaign shaping up as one of the league’s most competitive in recent seasons. Olympiakos, last year’s champions, must regroup after back-to-back defeats in European and domestic play—a rare wobble for a side accustomed to dominance.

PAOK’s ability to come from behind, particularly against a disciplined Olympiakos side, will be a source of belief for Lucescu’s squad. The performance of Zivković, in particular, marks him out as a fulcrum around which PAOK’s ambitions may revolve.

As the final whistle sounded, Toumba erupted in celebration, the memory of an early setback erased by the resolve and spirit on display. For PAOK, this was more than three points—it was a statement of intent in a wide-open title race. For Olympiakos, a stark reminder that old rivals remain dangerous, especially on nights like these.