AEK’s preparations for Saturday’s match against OFI in Nea Filadelfia, for Matchday 6 of the Stoiximan Super League, are entering the final stretch. The international players are gradually returning to Spata, and Marko Nikolić expects to have nearly the entire squad at his disposal by the end of the week, so he can finalize his starting lineup.
The most significant piece of good news concerns Lazaros Rota. The international right back has overcome the injury that had sidelined him before the break and has returned to his regular training routine. Provided he doesn’t experience any discomfort during the final training sessions, he is expected to be available for the match against OFI, providing an additional option on the right side of the defense.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
On the injury report, attention remains focused on the cases of Thomas Strakosias and Barnabas Varga, with AEK having no intention of taking any risks with players who have been dealing with injuries. Meanwhile, there is also the case of Oleksandr Zubkov, who returned from duty with the Ukrainian national team with lower back discomfort, and his condition will be reevaluated before a decision is made on whether he’ll be available for Saturday’s match.
Nikolić will now use the final training sessions to assess the condition of those returning from national team duty, evaluate their fatigue levels, and finalize his game plan. AEK wants to return from the break with a home win, but knows that facing OFI will require focus and proper game management, with the Serbian coach waiting until the last minute to have as many options available as possible.
*photo source: AP
