AEK suffered a major setback with the injury to Barnabas Varga, who will be sidelined for about three weeks. The Hungarian forward felt pain in the back of his right leg while attempting to sprint and left the field immediately; medical tests confirmed a muscle injury.
His absence is forcing Marko Nikolić to adjust his game plan for the match against Volos at Panthessaliko Stadium. The Serbian coach does not appear to be abandoning the 4-4-2 formation, but he is considering different ways to fill the significant gap in the attack. One scenario has Zini playing alongside Luka Jović, while there is also the option of pairing the Serbian forward with a player who brings different qualities to the attack.
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In this case, Petros Mandalos is very high on Nikolić’s list, especially after his outstanding performance against Panserraikos. Mijat Gacinović could also fill a similar role, as the AEK coach also wants to keep an attacking option on the bench so he can change the course of the game during the match.
Varga’s absence is felt even more acutely when you consider his contribution at the start of the season. The Hungarian has scored eight goals in nine appearances across all competitions and had become the team’s key player in the opponent’s penalty area.
Varga will definitely miss the game against Volos, and it is considered unlikely that he will be ready in time for the matches against OFI and Shakhtar. AEK has no intention of rushing his return, and the goal is for him to come back fully prepared, with the match against Manchester City representing a possible—though not yet certain— time for his return to action.
*photo source: AEK FC
