PAOK's Aleksandar Prijovic (R) competes with Spartak Moscow's Andrey Eshchenko during the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round football match between PAOK and Spartak Moscow at Toumba stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Aug. 8, 2018. PAOK won 3-2. (Xinhua/Dimitris Tosidis)

ATHENS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Greece's PAOK beat the Russian guests of Spartak Moskva 3-2 on Wednesday in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

The Greek team had a bad start at Toumba stadium in the city port of Thessaloniki in northern Greece, but had turned the match around by the end of the first half.

Spartak Moskva's Ivelin Popov scored first in the seventh minute and Quincy Promes followed with a second goal for the guests in the 17th minute.

However, the hosts had a very strong comeback and Aleksandar Prijovic scored in the 29th minute after a penalty and Dimitris Limnios equalized in the 37th minute.

PAOK's victory was sealed in the 44th minute by Dimitris Pelkas.

The second game which decides which of the two teams will proceed and reach the group stage will be played on Aug. 14 in Moscow, Russia.