PAOK's academy did the winning while the first team waited
Two clean sheets in Kalamata, on the same afternoon, in the same stadium. First the K15, who won 0–2 through Vakoufaris and Stampolidis (2) (14). Then the K17, who won 0–4 with Priovolos scoring twice and assisting twice (3) (15). That is the story of PAOK's week: the academy kept winning while the first team sat idle.
The first team has not played since September
Panetolikos 1–3 PAOK on 20 September. PAOK's fourth win in five league games, then nothing. The international break swallowed two weekends, and the first team's next match is Kalamata at Toumba on Monday, 17:00 CEST (9) (21).
PAOK is third on 12 points from five matches, goal difference +7, four wins and one defeat (1) (19). The only loss came at Panathinaikos on 6 September, 3–1. That is the one result separating this start from an unbeaten one, and it is worth remembering that it came away from home against the strongest opponent on the list.
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Lisci likes what the break gave him
"We have almost all players available," Alessio Lisci said, and he was direct about the opponent: "Kalamata deserves more points. We have to respect them and show our best version" (10) (18) (21) (22). He also spoke about Ivan Savvidis being around the training ground, calling the president helpful and smart in how he approaches individual players (22).
That reads like a coach who has been given room, not one under pressure, and third place with four wins in five says the room is earned. The depth helps. Banja, Ndiaye and Mythou are all pushing for the centre-forward slot, a pleasant problem for Lisci (11) (20). Three credible options for one position is how a squad survives a run like the one now starting: Kalamata at home, then Iraklis on 18 October, then OFI, AEK, Asteras and Olympiacos (5) (9).
What to watch
Kalamata at Toumba on Monday. This is a match PAOK should control, and the interesting question is how Lisci uses his returning squad. Does Banja start through the middle, or does one of Ndiaye and Mythou get the nod (11) (20)?
Then Iraklis at home on 18 October. Two home fixtures inside a week with a near-full group is the first real chance this season to show whether third place is a floor or a ceiling. Almost everyone is available. That is the test.
