The visitors led 2-0 less than 20 minutes into the contest on Wednesday, getting goals from Ivelin Popov and Dutch winger Quincy Promes, reports Efe.
PAOK's comeback began just before the half-hour mark, when Aleksander Prijovic converted from the spot after the referee awarded a penalty.
The next 15 minutes saw the hosts equalize and then pull ahead on goals by Dimitris Limnios and Dimitris Pelkas, respectively.
The lead came under threat in the 71st minute as Spartak won a penalty, but PAOK goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis stopped Promes from the spot and the Greek side will take a 3-2 advantage into next week's second leg in Moscow.
The other Greek club in action on Wednesday, AEK, managed to hold Celtic 1-1 in Glasgow despite playing the final third of the match with only 10 men.
Celtic took a 1-0 in the 17th minute on a strike by Callum McGregor, but Viktor Klonaridis brought the visitors level with a minute left in the first half.
AEK were reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute with the ejection of Konstantinis Galanopoulos, who picked up two yellow cards in the space of seven minutes.
Not lacking for firepower, the Scottish side failed to capitalize on the man advantage and will be under pressure to produce goals in quantity in the second leg.
RB Salzburg had an easy time on Wednesday with visiting Shk?ndija, defeating the Macedonian squad 3-0. Moanes Dabour had a brace for the hosts.
(This story has not been edited by Social News XYZ staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
