AEK Athens secures victory against LASK in Champions League opener

AEK Athens made a triumphant return to the UEFA Champions League group stage on September 8, 2026, defeating Austrian side LASK 1-0 at the Allwyn Arena in Nea Filadelfeia. The decisive moment occurred in the 21st minute when Razvan Marin scored with an exceptional direct free kick, marking AEK's first goal in the competition's main phase since October 2018. The match was played before a capacity crowd as part of the new League Phase format, with AEK earning approximately 25.3 million euros in total revenues from the match bonus and performance-related value pillars.

This victory follows an impressive 5-0 domestic league win against Aris on September 5, which boosted team morale. Goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha was sidelined for the final training session due to an undisclosed issue, leading Alberto Brignoli to fill in during the European fixture. Under manager Marko Nikolic, the team displayed defensive discipline, conceding only two major chances while missing opportunities to extend their lead. This result represents AEK's first Champions League victory since November 2007, ending a long drought in Europe's premier club competition. The club now looks forward to the remaining seven matches of the League Phase with the objective of advancing to the knockout stages.