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Derby of Thessaloniki

The Derby of Thessaloniki () is a football local rivalry between Aris and PAOK, both of which are based in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece. Aris play their home games at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium in Charilaou district of eastern Thessaloniki, while PAOK are based at the Toumba Stadium in the neighbouring Toumba district. The two stadiums are 1.54 km apart, straight-line distance.

History

Social rivalry

The rivalry between these two Thessalonian clubs can be traced back to the interwar period. Upper class local Greeks supported Aris and Greek refugees supported PAOK. These refugees were mostly working class migrants from Asia Minor and Constantinople. They settled in the region of Macedonia after the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923. The antagonism between those social groups has been expressed in many ways and one of them was football.

Football rivalry

Aris were founded in March 1914 and PAOK in April 1926. On 12 June 1927, the first derby of Thessaloniki took place, ending with a 2–1 PAOK victory. Up to 1959, the two clubs were fighting for the Macedonia Football Clubs Association (EPSM) ( or Ε.Π.Σ.Μ.) local championship title and they also met some times in the final stage of the Panhellenic Championship. In 1959, the Alpha Ethniki - the precursor of the current Super League - was set up as a national round-robin tournament. has continued to escalate over the decades, with the two clubs in a persistent battle for supremacy in Northern Greece.

Other sports rivalries

Aris and PAOK rivalry extends to as well, especially basketball, where from the mid-1980s until the early 1990s they were battling for the Greek Championship title, with both also achieving significant success in continental competitions. In volleyball, both teams competed for many years in the top-tier Greek Volley League. Aris had a strong side in the 1990s and PAOK has enjoyed domestic success since 2015.

Statistics

Head-to-head

<sup>1</sup> Including play-off games

Match list

Alpha Ethniki / Super League Greece (1959 – present)

<sup>1</sup> 7th-place playoff. PAOK finished 7th and Aris 8th, due to a better goal difference.

•There were no games in the 1997–98 and 2005–06 seasons, nor in the 2014–18 period due to the relegation of Aris to lower divisions.

Greek Cup

<sup>1</sup> The original match was played on 26 March 1950 at Sintrivani Stadium. It was interrupted in the 85th minute, while Aris were leading by 1–0.

<sup>2</sup> The match was abandoned in the 89th minute following an altercation between Aris players and the referee.

<sup>3</sup> Final group standings: PAOK 7 (q), Ergotelis 4 (q), Aris 4, Aittitos Spata 1. <br />• Series won: Aris 7, PAOK 9.

Significant games

First official match

The first-ever meeting between both clubs came in a Macedonia Football Clubs Association (MFCA) match on 12 June 1927. During the 1926–27 season, the newly established PAOK participated in the 2nd tier of the MFCA regional league and finished at the top, facing all four first-division teams (including Aris) in post-season classification matches. The game was held at Iraklis Old Stadium and ended with a 2–1 PAOK victory.

1970 Greek Cup final

In 1970, the two clubs met in a Cup final for the first time. The two teams took to the field at Kaftanzoglio Stadium on 28 June and Aris took the lead with Keramidas scoring early in the 8th minute. PAOK had a great chance to equalize from the penalty spot, but Koudas missed. Aris prevailed 1–0 and claimed the trophy which remains to this day their last domestic title.

1972 Greek Cup quarter-final

Aris had a 19-game unbeaten run against PAOK that lasted for nine years and ended in this eventful encounter. The match was abandoned in the 89th minute following an altercation between Aris players and the referee. Consequently, disciplinary action resulted in one-year bans for Alexiadis and Spyridon, an eight-month suspension for Syropoulos, and lesser penalties for Balafas and Semertzis. PAOK went on to win the 1972 Cup, which was their first domestic title.

2003 Greek Cup final

Second time that the two clubs met in a Cup final. Kaftanzoglio Stadium, a neutral ground and Thessaloniki's largest stadium was under renovation for the 2004 Summer Olympic games. On 6 September 2002, the HFF Board decided that should the final be held in Thessaloniki—mandated if a local club qualified—Toumba Stadium would serve as the venue, being the second largest in the city. Nine days prior to the match, Aris submitted a request to the Federation demanding that the final be held at either the Kalamaria or Makedonikos stadium—both neutral venues with significantly lower capacities—or that a draw be held between Toumba Stadium and Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium. Both proposals were rejected, as the HFF Board unanimously reaffirmed its September decision on the matter. PAOK defeated Aris 1–0 with an excellent goal scored by Georgiadis and earned their fourth Greek Cup title. Aris had a great chance to equalize late at the game, but the ball hit the post on Morris' effort.

2010 league game at Charilaou

In the 2009–10 season, Fernando Santos' PAOK were battling for the league title, trailing Panathinaikos by two points after 25 matches. Running a 13-game unbeaten streak, their title hopes ended on Matchday 26, when they lost 2–0 away to Héctor Cúper's Aris with Cámpora scoring both goals.

2024 league title decider at Charilaou

Last Matchday of the 2023–24 season. PAOK were leading the table, being two points ahead of AEK Athens, and an away win against their city rivals was required to clinch the title. Aris were 5th on the table and had qualified for the Cup final, which was scheduled for the 25th of May. PAOK secured a 1–2 away victory to claim their fourth Greek championship. Aris had a great chance to equalize and deprive the title from their rivals, but Ansarifard headed the ball wide from close range on the last play of the game.

Other notable games

27 February 1966, Alpha Ethniki, Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, Aris – PAOK 5–1 <small>(Alexiadis 24', Psifidis 43', Chatzikostas 65' pen., Syropoulos 69', 75' – Koudas 60' pen.)</small>. Aris record league home win against PAOK. PAOK goalkeeper Mouselemidis was injured early in the first half and he was replaced by defender Tatsis as substitutions in football had not been established at the time.

16 February 1975, Alpha Ethniki, Toumba Stadium, PAOK – Aris 5–0 <small>(Paridis 23', Koudas 28', 51', Tsilingiridis 68', Sarafis 87')</small>. Largest victory ever recorded in the Thessaloniki derby.

17 May 1978, Greek Cup, Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, Aris – PAOK 0–1 <small>(aet, Orfanos 112')</small>. First and only time to this day that the two clubs met in a Cup semi-final.

7 December 1994, Alpha Ethniki, Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, Aris – PAOK 0–4 <small>(Toursounidis 22', 57', Lagonidis 61', Bociek 90'+2')</small>. PAOK record league away win against Aris. Match was initially scheduled on 20 November, but was postponed due to crowd violence.

16 March 1997, Alpha Ethniki, Toumba Stadium, PAOK – Aris 2–1 <small>(Vryzas 70', 75' – Mavrogenidis 82')</small>. Crucial game for both clubs, as PAOK were battling for European qualification and Aris to avoid relegation. Season eventually concluded with PAOK qualifying for the next season's UEFA Cup and Aris being relegated to the second-tier Beta Ethniki for the first time in the club's history.

29 August 1998, Alpha Ethniki, Toumba Stadium, PAOK – Aris 1–4 <small>(Kafes 63' – Charisteas 15', 54', Koulakiotis 68' o.g., Panopoulos 73')</small>. Aris record league away win against PAOK, marking their emphatic return to the top-tier Alpha Ethniki with emerging talent Charisteas having his breakout game and scoring a brace.

28 January 2009, Greek Cup, Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, Aris – PAOK 0–0 <small>(aet, 8–9 pen.)</small>. First and only time to this day that a Thessaloniki derby was decided by penalty shoot-out. Karabelas from Aris missed the last penalty sending the ball over the bar.

4 January 2020, Super League Greece, Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, Aris – PAOK 4–2 <small>(Larsson 17', Vélez 41', Rose 47', Sasha 71' – Świderski 10', Matos 77')</small>. Aris brought an end to PAOK’s 51-game unbeaten league run that began in March 2018, which ranks as the second-longest in Greek top-flight history, surpassed only by Olympiacos' 58-match record set from October 1972 to April 1974.

Top scorers

Including all the Alpha Ethniki and Greek Cup games since 1959–60.

Head-to-head ranking in Super League Greece

• Total: PΑΟΚ 48 times higher finishes, Aris 18 times higher finishes.

European records

Aris

PAOK

<small>Last updated: 26 February 2026</small>

Men in both teams

Players
Managers

References

External links