Olympiakos created more than usual yet shared the points

Armando González gave Olympiakos Piraeus the lead against PAOK, but Andrija Živković's equaliser meant a 1-1 draw and a share of the spoils.

Olympiakos had 64% of the ball against PAOK at the Karaiskakis Stadium, comfortably above the 58.8% they average at home this season. Possession alone does not settle a match, though, so the chances matter more. Their expected goals figure, a score for the quality of each chance where 1 would be a near-certain goal, reached 1.71, against a home average of 1.03. They made more and better openings than usual, and still had to watch the lead slip away.

Armando González put the hosts ahead in the 58th minute, and for thirteen minutes it looked as if the extra quality would count. Andrija Živković equalised for PAOK in the 71st, having been booked in the 60th, and the score stayed 1-1 to the final whistle. Neither side had a player sent off, so nothing about the finish is explained by a man short. That makes the rest of the figures easier to read, because every chance was taken by eleven players on each side.

PAOK had far less of the game in volume terms. They held 36% of the ball, against an away average of 52%, and took eight shots when they usually take 15.3. Shot count is a blunt measure, however, because a shot from inside the penalty box is far more likely to go in than one from distance. Six of PAOK's eight came from inside the box, and their chance quality sits only a little below the level they average away from home. Their goalkeeper, D. Monastirlis, made four saves to keep the home side's attacks in check.

The home defence tells the other side of the story. Olympiakos usually concede 0.74 xG at home, and PAOK's chance quality in this match was more than double that figure. In other words, the visitors found better openings than the home side normally allow, even though they had fewer shots. Across the league, teams average 2.7 goals a match, and this game produced just two, so the scoring was lighter than most.

Discipline was one-sided. PAOK picked up five yellow cards to Olympiakos's two, and four of PAOK's five came between the 45th and 60th minutes. Olympiakos arrived having won five of their last six matches, while PAOK had won four of theirs, with two defeats among the six.

The draw leaves Olympiakos second in the table with 22 points from nine games, while PAOK sit fourth on 18 from the same number of matches. Olympiakos have won seven of those nine, and PAOK have won six. Olympiakos remain second, four points ahead of PAOK in fourth.

Player of the matchA. González1 goal7.9

A. Živković1 goal7.7

L. Pirola10 duels won7.3

M. Mouandilmadji2 shots on target6.9