AEK Athens prepares for Champions League opener following dominant victory over Aris

AEK Athens secured a commanding 5-0 victory over Aris on September 5, marking a strong recovery following their previous league result against Kifisia. The match featured three goals from Varga, with additional contributions from Marin, Koita, and Zini. The offensive performance, overseen by head coach Marko Nikolic, highlights the team's momentum as they return to the Champions League stage for the first time in eight years.

The team is now focused on their upcoming League Phase opening match against the Austrian champions, LASK Linz, scheduled for Tuesday at 19:45 in the Allwyn Arena. During the pre-match press conference, Nikolic expressed his team's commitment to competing at the highest level and emphasized the significance of home-field advantage. While preparations are near completion, concerns have arisen regarding goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, who missed the final training session due to an undisclosed issue, with Alberto Brignoli standing by as a potential replacement. The club has finalized its squad for the European competition, excluding Georgiev, Kaloskamis, and one other player from the list. The coaching staff plans to maintain the successful core lineup that dominated Aris to sustain their current form.