With Celta picking up a 2-1 win in Thessaloniki last week, PAOK’s task at hand required history to be made due to them having never won an away European match in Spain in eight attempts (D2, L6) before tonight. The first half got off to a sluggish start, with neither side willing to commit forward.
It took until just before the half-hour mark for the first real opportunity when, following a neat passing move, Iago Aspas was picked out in the box, and his cutback to the edge of the box was flashed narrowly wide by Matias Vecino.
The home side began to dominate possession leading up to half-time, but the stubborn Aspromavri defence was proving tough to break down as they headed into the break goalless, with neither side registering a shot on target.
Celta got off to a much quicker start following the interval, and they came close to breaking the deadlock four minutes into the second half after a quick, swift break forward.
A long ball sent Javi Rueda racing down the right flank, and the Spaniard played a pinpoint pass to Borja Iglesias on the edge of the box, only for the talisman’s curling effort to be turned behind by Antonis Tsiftsis.
PAOK struggled to gain a foothold in the contest and never looked like threatening, and they were punished just past the hour mark.
A high press deep into the Greek side’s half paid dividends for the Celestes as they forced a turnover, with the ball eventually worked to Iglesias on the edge of the box, and his deft touch slipped in Williot Swedberg, who passed the ball into the bottom-right corner.
With their aggregate deficit extended to two goals, the onus was on PAOK to come out and attack, but with just a quarter-hour remaining, the Greek outfit had not registered a shot in the second half, allowing Celta to coast through to victory.
Razvan Lucescu would have been disappointed with his side’s performance as they failed to threaten the home side. A comfortable evening allowed Celta to progress into the round of 16, having won 10 of their last 11 knockout ties in UEFA competitions after winning the first leg, and they will now face either Lyon or Aston Villa.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo)
