AEK returns to domestic action with the goal of getting back on the winning track!
AEK hosts (8:00 p.m.) Panetolikos for Matchday 8 of the Stoiximan Super League, playing a league match for the first time in 14 days since that comfortable 3-0 home victory over OFI!
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
This was followed by a trip to England, where the team focused entirely on its two consecutive matches for Matchdays 2 and 3 of the Champions League, after exercising its right to postpone its match against Atromitos.
First in London and then in Manchester, Nikolić’s team suffered two losses to Shakhtar and City, competing on equal terms for the win against the Ukrainians in a match in which they took the lead but ultimately lost 3-1, conceding two goals from the 80th minute onward, while against Maresca’s powerhouse team last Tuesday, they suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat.
Now, they have turned their attention back to their domestic commitments, hosting an opponent that always gives them a hard time (5 of their 6 most recent meetings were decided by a single goal, except for the most recent one about a year ago, when AEK triumphed 5-0 in Agrinio). Trailing league-leading Panathinaikos by 4 points but having played one fewer game, AEK absolutely needs the three points, given that three very demanding and difficult matches lie ahead: against PAOK at Toumba in the Cup, against Panathinaikos at OAKA in the league, and against Real Madrid in Nea Filadelfia in the Champions League!
Mayer’s absence is particularly significant tonight, as he has accumulated yellow cards. Brignoli will likely start in goal again, as Strakosha isn’t yet at 100% yet,
On the other hand, Panetolikos, who will have their fans cheering them on tonight (in yet another away game!), are in 9th place in the standings and have traveled to Athens aiming to pull off an upset, securing a result and putting an end to a four-game losing streak. The Agrinio-based team got off to an impressive start with three straight wins against Asteras AKTOR, Kalamata, and Levadiakos, but subsequently failed to earn even a single point from their challenging schedule, which included very tough matches against Panathinaikos, PAOK, Kifissia, and Olympiacos, in which they found the back of the net just once. Yiannis Anastasiou’s team also faces tough tests ahead against OFI in Agrinio and Aris in Thessaloniki.
Koutseranko, Thymianis, Mavrias, Granath, Smyrlis, and the long-term absentee Satsias were left out of the squad.
Probable starting lineups:
AEK (Nikolić): Brignoli – Rota, Mukundi, Relvas, Pilios – Marin, Vitalis, Koita, Zubkov – Jović, Varga.
Panaitolikos (Anastasiou): Xenopoulos – Prodromitis, Nakamba, Stagić, Manrique – Eraković, Esteban – Opoku, Basi, Genepo – Bandzi.
*photo source: AP
