AEK Athens return to their home ground holding a slender advantage after a goalless first leg, with a place in the next round within reach. Manager Marko Nikolic has rotated heavily, making seven changes to his usual league lineup, which introduces some uncertainty about cohesion…
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Sign inAEK Athens host Levski Sofia on Tuesday evening in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie, the contest hanging in the balance after a goalless first encounter in Bulgaria. Both clubs are a decade removed from their last appearance in the competition's main draw, making this a pivotal 90 minutes in the Greek capital.
Levski Sofia travel with several fitness concerns. Radoslav Kirilov and Stipe Vulikic are expected to miss out through injury, while Mustapha Sangare, Akram Bouras and Oliver Kamdem are battling to be available. In attack, the Bulgarian champions will lean heavily on Reinaldo and Armstrong Oko-Flex — the duo have contributed five of Levski’s goals during qualification and caused AEK problems in the first leg.
AEK Athens have one confirmed absentee: summer signing Milan Vitalis is cup-tied after featuring for Gyor earlier in the competition. Otherwise, manager Matías Almeyda has a full squad to choose from. Luka Jovic, who rattled the crossbar with a first-half volley in the opening leg, is set to lead the line again, supported by the creative duo of Erik Lamela and Lovro Majer.
Levski arrive in Athens unbeaten in all competitions since May. They have won five consecutive European home matches and eliminated Borac Banja Luka, Universitatea Craiova and Kairat during the qualifying rounds. Svetoslav Vutsov’s man-of-the-match display in the first leg highlighted a defensive resilience that has seen them keep clean sheets in three of their last four qualifiers.
AEK are still searching for their first win of the new season. A Super Cup final defeat to OFI Crete was followed by the 0-0 draw in Sofia, meaning the reigning Greek champions have gone two competitive matches without a goal. The return to home surroundings — and the experience of players such as Domagoj Vida, Petros Mantalos and Anthony Martial — will be crucial in ending that drought.
The Serbian striker was AEK’s most dangerous player in the first leg, his snapshot off the woodwork underlining the threat he poses. Kristian Dimitrov and Nikola Serafimov handled him well that night, but Jovic’s movement and aerial ability will test them again. If Levski’s backline can keep him quiet for a second time, the visitors’ dream of a Champions League return will move within touching distance.
Both sides are already guaranteed European league-phase football — the loser drops into the Europa League — but the prize of a Champions League group-stage spot carries enormous financial and sporting weight. For AEK, a season that began with Super Cup disappointment can be transformed by one home victory. Levski, meanwhile, are 90 minutes from ending a wait that stretches back more than ten years.
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