AEL advances to Coca-Cola Cup round of 16 after win against Iraklis Gerolakkou

AEL secured their place in the round of 16 of the Coca-Cola Cup following a 2-1 victory over Iraklis Gerolakkou on November 3, 2026. Despite the result, head coach Hugo Martins expressed dissatisfaction with the overall energy levels displayed by his squad throughout the match.

Martins singled out Paroutis for his performance, noting that he was the only player who brought the intensity the coach had expected. Regarding squad management, the manager confirmed that Jovetic is expected to be fully fit and available for the team's next encounter. Bruno Almeida made his return to the pitch after receiving significant playing time, though the coach stated that the player still requires more time to improve his physical conditioning before he can contribute at full capacity.

The team utilized a rotation strategy for this cup fixture to manage player load. Martins indicated that while the objective of advancing was achieved, he expects higher standards of energy from his players in future matches, with Almeida likely to see increased participation as his fitness progresses.