Vidi beat PAOK for the second time to go second in the group with two games left

It was back to Europa League group stage action on Thursday evening in Budapest. The game at the Groupama Arena kicked off at 18:55pm with Chelsea leading the group with 9 points. PAOK, Vidi and BATE all had 3 points each with the Greek side sitting in second place thanks to a better goal difference. Match 4 of the group saw Vidi face PAOK for the second time in the space of a couple of weeks with Chelsea winning the other group game 1-0 away in BATE. 

Marko Nikolic did not make any changes to his starting line-up from the team that won 2-0 away in Thessoliniki. PAOK had an expected stronger side with Prijovic, Wernbloom and Leo Jaba coming in. There was a good atmosphere inside the Groupama with virtually every ticket sold. PAOK had more of the ball in the early exchanges and the first chance after 9 minutes. Limnios flicked a Tocsa cross on towards goal, but keeper Kovacsik was well placed to collect it. Vidi managed to break forward after 13 minutes when Scepovic out paced Varela but in the end he could not shoot at goal. 

A free kick after 31 minutes ended with Vinicius falling to the ground in a dubious manner, but the Turkish match official did not blow his whistle as the match continued without any significant event.

We were in the dying stages of the first half when Fiola went on a solo run before finding Milanov, whose promising shot was blocked by Varela. The danger did not end and Fiola headed the ball to Nego, who almost found himself with a chance on goal, but a defender got back to clear and the teams went in at the break with the score at 0-0.

The second half did not start in any other way than Vidi taking the lead. Vinicius got the ball inside his half and fed Patkai with the ball before continuing to sprint. The midfielder play a perfect ball through to Vinicius, whose cross in was headed nicely home by Georgi Milanov (1-0). It really was a fine header and a great end to a lovely quick move.

The goalscorer then had another effort but it was not on target. He received a great ovation when he came off to be replaced by Boban Nikolov after 58 minutes. PAOK manager Lucescu also made changes with Biseswart coming on to replace Limnios. 

A long range shot from Leo Matos went wide on 62 minutes before El Kaddouri came on for ex Arsenal player Chuba Akpom. Marko Nikolic made his second change after 66 minutes. Huszti came off and Kovacs went on to the pitch. Stopira needed time to receive treatment after a clash of heads. He managed to continue with Vidi making their third change when Hodzic came on for Scepovic.

Hodzic passed to Nikolov after 79 minutes who found himself behind the defence, but he hesitated and the danger escaped. PAOK started to place pressure on Vidi towards the end. Akpom tried a scissor kick following a pass from Biseswarn, who crossed a sharp ball in, but the defence were well place to hack it away. Warda sent a free kick on 85 minutes over the bar with the home side placing even more emphasis on defending. They also did this very successfully and remained solid throughout.

The 5 minutes of injury time was a battle to keep the ball out of the box. Prijovic used his head several times and then Crespo sent an effort wide of the right post. Leo Matos also hit wide after 94 minutes. 

The almost 6 minutes did not bring a change to the score and Vidi are now in second place on 6 points. That is thanks to the win in Thessoliniki and Budapest. The next game in the group will be on the 29th November in Belarus. Vidi could go through in the group with a win in Borisov and that has never happened before for a Hungarian side to qualify.