AEK is counting down to tomorrow’s big match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium (10:00 p.m.) for the third matchday of the Champions League group stage.
The “Yellow-and-Blacks” trained yesterday at the Premier League leaders’ training center, with no injury concerns, as Mihat Gacinović has recovered from the discomfort he felt in the last match. Essentially, the only issue is the absence of Thomas Strakosha, who has remained in Athens; the goal is for him to be available to the team starting with Saturday’s match against Panetolikos. Tonight’s final practice will take place at the match venue, while earlier, Marko Nikolić and one player will speak at the press conference.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The Serbian coach has finalized the lineup he will field, and nine players appear to have secured spots: Brignoli, Rota, Pilios, Mukundi, Relvas, Marin, Mayer, Koita, and Jović. Two positions are still up for grabs, that of the second central midfielder, with Vitalis and Kairinen as candidates (it’s unlikely we’ll see a three-man midfield), as well as one more player in the role of attacking midfielder or second striker (Gacinović, Zini, and João Mário are in the running). Varga is in a position to play more minutes than he did in the match against Shakhtar, and it’s not out of the question that he might even be in the starting lineup.
*photo source: AP
