PAOK Saloniki Women 2–0 Asteras Tripolis Women: Pre-Season Test Serves Up Promising Signs

The women's team of PAOK Saloniki began their build-up to the 2026–27 campaign with a confident 2–0 victory over Asteras Tripolis Women in an International Club Friendly held on 24 May 2026. The match, played behind closed doors at the club's training complex in Thessaloniki, provided head coach Alexandros Aivatzidis with useful fitness and tactical data as the squad seeks to mount a serious challenge in both the Greek A Division and domestic cup competitions.

Match Overview

PAOK controlled large spells of the friendly, demonstrating sharp passing combinations and a high press that left Asteras struggling to build from the back. The first breakthrough arrived shortly before the half-hour mark when midfielder Eleni Markou latched onto a through ball from captain Vasiliki Gounaraki and slotted calmly past the Asteras goalkeeper. The home side doubled their advantage early in the second period, with winger Stella Kyriakidou finishing a well-worked move down the left flank.

Key Observations

• Defensive Solidity: PAOK's back four, marshalled by centre-back Eirini Nefrou, restricted Asteras to only a handful of half-chances. The clean sheet will be particularly pleasing for the coaching staff.
• Midfield Control: The double pivot of Gounaraki and Despoina Papadopoulou dictated the tempo, allowing the full-backs to push high and create overloads in wide areas.
• Rotation: Both sides used the full complement of substitutes, giving fringe players valuable minutes ahead of the new season.

What This Means for Both Sides

For PAOK Saloniki Women, this friendly serves as a solid foundation. The team will now travel to a short training camp in the Netherlands, where they are scheduled to face Eredivisie opposition before the Greek league kicks off in September. Asteras Tripolis Women, meanwhile, will analyse the performance to tighten their defensive transitions. The Arkadia-based club has ambitions of climbing the table after a mid-table finish last term, and friendlies like this are vital for gelling new signings.

As of late May 2026, the match report will be filed into the club's pre-season records, but for supporters, the result signals that the Thessaloniki giants are intent on hitting the ground running when competitive action resumes.