Aris Limassol defeats AEL in final preseason friendly match

Aris Limassol secured a 3-2 victory over AEL Limassol in their final preseason friendly held at the Alphamega Stadium on August 22, 2026. The match, which served as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Cyprus League, ended 2-2 in regulation time, with Juraj Badeli scoring the decisive goal via a direct free kick in the 115th minute. Aris opened the scoring just 12 seconds into the game through Werton, following a defensive error by AEL. Efaghe added a second goal for Aris in the 12th minute, while AEL equalized twice through Singh, who scored in the 7th and 76th minutes.

Following the friendly, both teams are focusing on their opening matches of the 2026-27 season. Aris is scheduled to face Apollon in the Limassol derby on August 29, while AEL will host Anorthosis on August 30. AEL management continues to evaluate the squad, with reports indicating a need for additional reinforcements in the defensive midfield following an injury to Soke, as coach Hugo Martins aims to address errors observed in the team's defensive structure during the match against Aris.