PAOK and Maccabi Tel Aviv played out a 0-0 draw at the packed Toumba Stadium on Wednesday evening. Though goals never came, the intensity of the contest, the shadow of protests, and the tactical chess match between the two sides produced a drama that transcended the scoreboard.
Before a ball was kicked, the mood around the stadium was already charged. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators massed in parts of Thessaloniki demanding the exclusion of Israeli clubs from European competitions. Banners, chants, and scattered confrontations drew a heavy police presence, with bomb-sniffing units and special forces deployed as Israel team buses entered under escort.
Roughly 120 Israeli supporters were kept under close supervision by law enforcement as they were brought into the 28,000-seat stadium. At kickoff, PAOK fans unfurled flags and banners near the pitch, including one reading “Show Israel the Red Card.”
The politicized atmosphere threatened to overshadow the football, but both teams eventually settled into the contest with clear intent to avoid letting external forces dictate the narrative.
On the field, the game was competitive and balanced. PAOK, fielding Jirí Pavlenka in goal behind a backline including Jonjoe Kenny, Ioannis Michailidis, Tomasz Kedziora and Abdul Rahman Baba, attempted to press the issue, especially down the flanks.
Midfielders Magomed Ozdoev, Souahilo Meïté, and Giannis Konstantelias were tasked with supplying a forward line of Andrija Živković, Taison, and Giorgos Giakoumakis. Maccabi, for their part, responded with a solid defensive setup and bursts of ambition through Osher Davida, Dor Peretz, and Kristijan Bélic.
Defender Mohamed Ali Camara and Raz Shlomo provided resilience at the back, while Issouf Sissokho attempted to hold midfield balance.
In the opening exchanges, both teams probed cautiously. PAOK tried to use wing combinations and cross deliveries, while Maccabi sought to hit on transition and exploit any space left behind. The first booking came in the 24th minute, when Jonjoe Kenny’s late challenge earned a yellow.
Later, in the 37th minute, Issouf Sissokho was cautioned following a defensive foul. Moments after, Maccabi thought they had taken the lead: Dor Peretz finished from inside the box, only for VAR to intervene and disallow the goal for an offside in the buildup. That decision provided a psychological boost to the home side, reviving belief that a breakthrough was still on the cards as the first half wore on.
PAOK’s best first-half moments arrived through cross-danger and late deliveries, but increasingly reliable defensive reads from Maccabi frustrated the hosts.
Midfield battles became more physical and tense as both sides committed to closing spaces. By halftime, the game remained level, but with the sense that the tide had tilted slightly toward the Greeks.
פותחים את הליגה האירופית עם נקודה בסלוניקי pic.twitter.com/LGK3MFQrxY
— Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (@MaccabiTLVFC) September 24, 2025
The second half brought renewed urgency. PAOK made substitutions in the 66th minute, replacing Taison with Kiril Despodov and Ozdoev with Mady Camara, injecting fresh legs into the attacking ranks.
Giakoumakis gave way for Fedor Chalov in the 72nd minute as part of a final push. Maccabi responded in kind, withdrawing Sissokho for Itamar Noy and Davida for Hélio Varela in the 73rd minute.
The most dangerous moment in the second half came in the 65th minute when Kervin Andrade’s low volley forced a save from Pavlenka, who got down sharply to tip the ball away. Throughout that period, PAOK pushed men forward, pinned Maccabi in their half, and rained crosses into the area.
But every delivery was handled by alert defenders or unconverted by the forward line. In the closing stages, a scramble in the box, a blocked shot, and a final effort by Fedor Chalov in stoppage time were all denied—Maccabi’s defense and goalkeeper showed composure.
Statistically, PAOK dominated possession (around 54.8 %), launched 18 shots compared with Maccabi’s 9, and earned nine corners to their opponent’s three. Yet while quantity favored the Greeks, the quality of chances was often lacking. Maccabi, with fewer opportunities, remained disciplined and compact.
The final whistle blew with both sides accepting a share of the points, though the sense lingered that PAOK had been the more active side.
From a competition standpoint, both teams now find themselves in a cautious beginning. A scoreless home draw is less than ideal for PAOK, who will aim to assert dominance in front of their own crowd in later group fixtures. For Maccabi, fashioning a result on the road without conceding offers a base of confidence. The group remains open, and every point will be precious.