PAOK Thessaloníki and Nigerian midfielder Anderson Esiti will wait another full season to get a taste of Champions League action following the 5-4 aggregate defeat to Ajax in the third round qualifiers for the competition.

Esiti played both legs of the qualifiers; 172 minutes in both legs of the tie, but his heroics weren’t enough to avoid defeat.

A five-goal thriller at the Johan Cruijff Arena saw 2018/19 semi-finalist, Ajax secure a 3-2 victory after a 2-2 first-leg result at the Stadio Toumba in Thessaloníki.

PAOK’s hope of European football this season now lies in the Europa League, but have one round of qualifying matches to play.

The Greek Super League champions will face Slovan Bratislava in the Play-off round; the first-leg will hold in Tehelné pole on August 22.

Seven days later the Toumba Stadium will host the reverse fixture.