This is the biggest moment yet for AEK, which will host (10:00 p.m.) to face Levski Sofia in the Champions League playoff rematch, where a spot in the League Phase will be decided.

The entire AEK organization lives and breathes for this game. Players, coach, management, and fans all want to see AEK back in the world’s premier club competition for the first time in eight years, since the 2018–19 season. If that happens, it will also mark the “Double-Headed Eagle’s” first appearance in the Champions League since its return to Nea Filadelfia. In the summer of 2023, they came within a hair’s breadth of the “stars,” but fell just short. Tonight, in a stadium that will be buzzing from the… warm-up, they want to make it happen.

Marko Nikolić’s team showed in the first match that they’re capable of it. If any team deserved to win in that 0-0 draw in Bulgaria, it was AEK. Jović hit the crossbar and missed yet another big chance in the match, while overall, the Greek champions were in control and proved in those first 90 minutes that they are the better team, though they’ll need to confirm that in tonight’s rematch and secure their spot in the next round.

However, AEK will need to manage its emotions and not give space to Levski Sofia, which will undoubtedly try to exploit the yellow-and-blacks’ transition game. Last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Heraklis boosted the morale of “AEK,” which got off to a perfect start in the league, while also seeing all three of its forwards (Jović scored twice) find the net ahead of the big rematch for the playoffs.

“We have a very big game ahead of us to advance to the League Phase. AEK has come a long way if you consider where we were a year ago. And if someone had told us we’d be one game away from the Champions League—and that it would be at home—we’d have said, ‘Are you crazy?’ But we’re here thanks to our dedication and sacrifices.

It’ll be a celebration of soccer. We’ll enjoy it, and we’ll be competitive. We’re facing an exceptional team. There’s no way we won’t show up prepared. We know each other, we’ve prepared even better, and we respect our opponent. We won’t make any mistakes. It’ll be a high-intensity game; we’ll enjoy the atmosphere and take it one step at a time to secure the win. “I’m always optimistic; we have a great deal of respect for our opponent and confidence in our team,” Nikolić said, among other things, at the press conference. He’ll have Koïta available as usual, who was left out of the game against Heraklis as a precaution.

The Mauritanian winger is expected to start, as is Kairinen as Marin’s partner in midfield, with Varga having the edge over Zini, to form the attacking duo with Jović up front.

On the other side, as is easily understood, the hunger is just as great for Levski Sofia, which aims to achieve an impressive 4-0 record in the qualifiers and advance to the Champions League group stage. This is because they have already eliminated Borac Banja Luka, Craiova, and Kairat, with the club’s management set to distribute bonuses totaling over 2 million euros if they succeed.

Also at Julio Velázquez’s disposal will be former AEK midfielder Marco Grujić, as Levski secured a resounding 6-0 victory over Spartak Varna ahead of tonight’s rematch.

“We all know what kind of team we’re up against, with exceptional players on an individual level. We’re going in with a clear plan to impose our style and move forward. It makes sense to approach this realistically. It’s difficult to play at this stadium against a very tough opponent.

We need to put on an exceptional performance—I’d say a brilliant one—while they have to have an off day. For them to have a bad day, we have to work hard and make it difficult for them,” Velázquez said, among other things, at the press conference.

Possible starting lineups:

AEK (Marko Nikolić): Strakosa, Rota, Mukundi, Relvas, Pilios, Mayer, Kairinen, Marin, Koita (Gacinović), Jović, Varga (Zini)

Levski Sofia (Julio Velázquez): Vuchov, Aldair, Dimitrov, Serafimov, Senteles, Maicon, Mubarik, Serginho, Oko, Bala, Reinaldo

Referee team:

• Referee: Clément Tourpen (France)
• First Assistant Referee: Nicolas Danos (France)
• Second Assistant Referee: Benjamin Pajet (France)
• Fourth Official: Romain Lisorz (France)
• VAR: Jérôme Brissard (France)
• AVAR: Bastien Desepi (France)

*photo source: aekfc.gr