Azeri champions Qarabag made a major stride towards the playoff round with a 2-1 succeed at Cypriot side APOEL yet Dinamo Zagreb left their advancement remaining in a critical state after the Croats played out a 1-1 home draw against Hungary's Ferencvaros.
A Hans Vaneken punishment late in the principal half gave Bruges a 1-0 home win against Dynamo Kiev.
Last season's semi-finalists Ajax, who have won Europe's chief club rivalry multiple times, made an ideal begin in the cauldron of PAOK's Tumba arena when Hakim Ziyech nestled into swerving free kick following 10 minutes.
Thundered on by an intense home group, PAOK switched things around before halftime when striker Chuba Akpom topped a streaming move with a fine completion from 10 meters and safeguard Leo Matos headed home a Diego Biseswar free kick.
Ajax, who endured a last-wheeze rout by Tottenham Hotspur in keep going season's semis, heaped on the weight after the break and Ziyech botched a glaring opportunity before substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar adjusted with a peculiar objective on the hour.
Fernando Varela's poor freedom from Donny van de Beek's check bounced back off the 35-year old striker's feet into the back of the net from short proximity and the guests at that point overwhelmed until the last whistle.
Red Star, the 1991 victors, surrendered a late equalizer after their striker Milan Pavkov reaffirmed his notoriety for scoring in defining moments just before the break, just to be constrained off the pitch at halftime by repetitive hamstring damage.
Pavkov, who got twice in last season's essential 2-0 home win over possible Champions League victors Liverpool in the gathering stage, terminated Red Star ahead in the 44th moment when he snared a free ball over guardian Sten Michael Grytebust.
Pavkov cleared a path for Richmond Boakye and the hosts were rebuffed in the end arranges for the Ghanaian's forward's second-half iniquity.
Boakye missed a couple of overlaid edged opportunities to twofold Red Star's lead before midfielder Dusan Jovancic fouled Copenhagen substitute Mas Jaume in the punishment zone and Jonas Wind coolly changed over the 84th-minute spot kick.
Dinamo's Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo discharged them ahead with a great objective in the seventh moment as he took an astute back-heel by Mislav Orsic in his walk, nutmegged a safeguard and hit the furthest corner of the net with a fresh shot.
However, Ferencvaros leveled against the keep running of play on the hour when David Siger beat Dominik Livakovic with a circling header after the manager had parried a shot from 10 meters.
Objectives from Mahir Emreli and Magaye Gueye gave Qarabag a 2-0 lead at APOEL before Giorgos Merkis pulled one back for the home sides in the 90th moment.
In Wednesday's champion installations, 1967 European Cup victors Celtic visit Romania's CFR Cluj while twice previous bosses Porto are away to Russians Krasnodar
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