AEK Athens secures dominant victory over Iraklis in league opener

Defending champion AEK Athens opened the 2026 Stoiximan Super League season with a commanding 4-0 victory against Iraklis at the Allwyn Arena on August 22, 2026. The match marked Iraklis's return to the top flight of Greek football after a decade-long absence. AEK dominated early, with goals from Varga and Jovic establishing a two-goal lead within the first twenty minutes. Jovic added another shortly after the break, and Zini capped the scoring late in the match. Notable performances included Marin, who provided two assists, and Vitalis, who made his official debut for the team.

Minor tension occurred between rival fan groups approximately 40 minutes before kickoff near the stadium’s gates, though security managed to de-escalate the situation. Due to a stadium ban for the team’s organized supporters stemming from last season’s finale, the stands were not fully occupied, while approximately 500 Iraklis fans were present in the designated away section.

Following this win, AEK manager Marko Nikolic is focusing on the upcoming Champions League playoff second leg against Levski Sofia on August 26. The club aims to build on this momentum to secure a place in the league phase of the European competition.