Champions League: AEK's X-ray

AEK is the opponent that Benfica faces at 8 pm on Tuesday in matchday 2 of the Champions League. The Greek champion suffered several changes in the squad and is looking for consistency after winning the title.

Just like SL Benfica, AEK had to play 2 qualifying rounds to reach the Group Stage of the Champions League. 1-all draw in Scotland against Celtic in the 3rd qualifying round and a 2-1 win in Athens. Next came Vidi FC. A 1-2 win in the trip to Hungary and the passport to the group stage sealed with a 1-all draw in Greece.

Goal achieved and the attention turned to the Greek League, with a good start from the team led by Marinos Ouzounidis. A triumph in the debut at home against PAS Giannina, by 2-0, followed by three more points in the trip to Asteras Tripolis (0-1). In the following round, a 4-0 thrashing of Panionios… and the return to Champions League.

In matchday 1 of the group stage, a trip to The Netherlands to face Ajax.

In Amsterdam, a difficult match for the Greeks who lost against Ajax. After a scoreless draw in the first half, the three goals of the Dutch triumph happened in the second half. Nicolás Tagliafico (46’ and 90’) and Donny van de Beek (77’) scored the goals.

In matchday 1 of the Champions League, Marinos Ouzounidis fielded the following starting XI: Vasilios Barkas, Michalis Bakakis (Giannis Gianniotas, 70’), Marios Oikonomou, Uros Cosic, Vassilis Lampropoulos, Niklas Hult, André Simões, Kostas Galanopoulos (Alef, 61’), Viktor Klonaridis, Petros Mantalos and Ezequiel Ponce (Giorgos Giakoumakis, 81’). Overall, four new signings (highlighted in bold) were used by the 49-year-old coach.

The return to the Greek League and another defeat, against  PAOK (2-0, goals from Prijovic).

Last Saturday, AEK visited OFI and returned to winning ways in matchday 5. Basaketas (20’), Galo (32’) and Ponce (65’) scored the goals from the 0-3 win.

The team from Athens played as followed: Barkas; Galo, Cosic, Chygrynskiy, Lopes (72’ Hult); Simões, Galanopoulos; Basaketas, Klonaridis (59’ Gianniotas), Mantalos; Ponce (69’ Giakoumakis).

With this result, the Greek team has 12 points (4W and 1L), with 10 goals scored and two conceded. Next comes the return to the Champions League.

Great will, difficulties scoring

The coach Marinos Ouzounidis is in favor of the attacking football, usually playing in 4x4x2 formation, presenting the 4x2x3x1 as a variation.

In average, the team has made 8 shot on target, a percentage of 37,5% per match. In the last match, against Ajax, they made 4 attempts, but none on target. Regarding passes, an average of 343 per match, however, the percentage of accurate passes has been dropping. In Amsterdam, AEK made 271 passes (213 accurate), with an accuracy percentage of 78,6%.

The Greek team likes to have ball possession, but the average of 45,32 % show that sometimes they struggle… and against Ajax it was just 42,15%.

A great match is expected at 8 pm on Tuesday at the Olympic Stadium Spiros Louis, which has the capacity for 68 thousand people.

Transfer at AEK

Text: Sónia Antunes

Pics: Site and Official Twitter of AEK