The fifth-round draw of the Greek Cup was kind to Athens’s giants yesterday, but not so with the Thessaloniki clubs.

PAOK will face Aris in the most appetizing encounter to emerge from the draw, with the game set for January 14 or 21, around the time when Aris will host PAOK for the Super League as well.

Give the format of the Cup, if there is no winner to the match at Toumba Stadium, there will be a replay at Aris’s home ground of Kleanthis Vikelidis on January 28.

This means that the two Thessaloniki rivals could face each other three times within a fortnight.

The city’s other major club, Iraklis, will travel to Tripolis to face local side Asteras.

Holders Olympiakos will visit OFI at Iraklion; Panathinaikos will play at Panthrakikos and AEK will host second-division side Kerkyra.

Also at Iraklion, Ergotelis will entertain Xanthi, while Panserraikos will greet Larissa in Serres and second-division Veria will clash with Panionios.

Ties will be played on January 14 or 21 and replays (if needed) are scheduled for January 28. The full schedule will be finalized later after consultation with the TV channel that holds the broadcasting rights for the Cup (Alpha).

The national Under-21 team of Greece drew 1-1 in a friendly match yesterday with the Swiss U-21 team in Athens. OFI’s Elini Dimoutsos opened the scoring for Greece in the first half but the Swiss equalized in the reprisal through Shkelzen Gashi.

Later last night, the men’s team of Greece played Italy in a friendly game at the Karaiskaki Stadium.