PAOK beat Panetolikos 3-1 in Agrinio despite injuries to Ali and Pavlenka

First-half dominance and two-goal lead

PAOK established control from the opening seconds in Agrinio during matchday 5 of the Super League season. In the opening moments, Ndiaye drove toward the six-yard box and cut the ball back for Zivkovic, though Panetolikos goalkeeper Kucherenko gathered the attempt. Alessio Lisci's side continued to press forward, creating openings down both flanks with attempts from Ali in the 19th minute and Zivkovic in the 25th minute. The clearest early opportunity arrived in the 21st minute when Pelkas struck a placed shot that forced a diving save from Kucherenko; Ndiaye turned in the rebound, but the goal was ruled out because Kenny stood in an offside position. PAOK translated their possession into the opening goal in the 33rd minute following a defensive transition from a Panetolikos corner. Jakic found Taha Ali on the break, and the Swedish winger moved inside before firing a right-footed shot that took a slight deflection off Granath into the net. Six minutes later, in the 39th minute, PAOK doubled their advantage. Pelkas delivered a corner that was kept alive by a Baba header, allowing Ndiaye to convert from close range to establish a 2-0 halftime lead.

Second-half response and injury setbacks

Panetolikos manager Giannis Anastasiou adjusted his lineup during the interval by introducing Diaz and Esteban. The visitors immediately encountered complications in the 48th minute when Ali suffered a shoulder injury and left the match, bringing Shola Shoretire on in his place. Panetolikos capitalized on their momentum in the 51st minute. Following a cross from the left and an attempted clearance by Ndiaye, the ball fell to Esteban, who controlled it and scored with a left-footed strike to narrow the scoreline to 1-2. The contest grew more combative throughout the second half, with referee Katoikos issuing yellow cards to Granath, Thymianis, Nakamba, Esteban, and Jakic. Both squads also suffered further physical casualties as Panetolikos lost Djenepo to an injury substitution. In the 70th minute, a collision occurred inside the penalty area when PAOK goalkeeper Pavlenka came out to collect the ball and collided with teammate Elustondo. Pavlenka had to be placed on a stretcher with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Tsiftsis, while Elustondo was also forced off the pitch.

Stoppage-time counter-attack and league standings

Panetolikos maintained offensive pressure over the remaining minutes in pursuit of an equalizer, but they failed to break down PAOK's reorganized defensive unit. PAOK sealed the win deep into added time through a transition play. In the 97th minute, Shoretire dispossessed Panetolikos defender Mavrias in the attacking third, combined with Zivkovic and Ugresic, and finished the counter-attack to make the score 1-3. The victory represents PAOK's third consecutive win across all competitions and their fourth win in five league rounds, with their only domestic loss coming against league leaders Panathinaikos. The result places PAOK alone in second place in the Super League table with 12 points, sitting three points behind Panathinaikos ahead of the international break. Panetolikos, who began the campaign with three consecutive victories, recorded their second straight defeat and remain on nine points in sixth place.