AEK Athens secures Champions League League Phase spot
AEK Athens secured a historic return to the UEFA Champions League after defeating Levski Sofia 4-0 in the play-off second leg held on August 26, 2026, at the Allwyn Arena in Nea Filadelfeia. Following a goalless draw in the first leg in Bulgaria, the Greek side dominated the return match with goals from Luka Jovic (7'), Barnabas Varga (12', 29'), and Razvan Marin (55' penalty). This victory marks the club's first appearance in the competition's main stage since the 2018-19 season.
Beyond the sporting achievement, the qualification provides a major financial boost. The club is guaranteed an initial starting fee of 18.62 million euros, with potential for further income through performance bonuses, TV market pool shares, and a 2-million-euro bonus reward promised by club owner Marios Iliopoulos. The team is now placed in the fourth seeding pot.
Looking ahead, AEK awaits the official draw scheduled for August 27 in Monaco at 19:00. The club will compete in the league phase under the new tournament format, facing eight different opponents—two from each of the four seeding pots—with four matches played at home and four away. The qualification of AEK, alongside Fenerbahce, Viking, and Slovan Bratislava, completes the 36-team lineup for the league phase.