Champions League: X-ray of AEK

Benfica locks horns with AEK at Estádio da Luz in the 6th and last round from Group E of the Champions League. The match takes place on Wednesday at 8 pm. Between the duels with the eagles, the Greeks won six of the 13 matches played.

It is an AEK in 4th place in the Greek SuperLeague, eliminated from the Champions League and in the top spot from Group B of the Greek Cup the one that travels to Lisbon to end its participation in the Champions League. The Greeks, that lost by 2-3 against Benfica in Athens, still have no points amassed in Group E.

Apart from the six wins in 13 official matches, AEK drew twice and suffered five losses. The team scored 18 goals and conceded 12. After the eagles, AEK drew at home against Olympiacos (1-1) and next won the matches against Lamia (2-1) and Apollon (2-0) for the Cup and for the championship, respectively.

In the return to the Champions League, Bayern Munich traveled to Athens to beat AEK, by 0-2. Next came two 4-0 routs against Aris (Greek Superleague) and Apollon Larissa (Greek Cup). In the trip to Panathinaikos, a scoreless draw in matchday 9 of the Championship.

The worst spell came after this scoreless draw, with four consecutive losses: 0-2 against Bayern Munich, 0-2 against Atromitos, 1-2 against Panetolikos and 0-2 against Ajax. After the storm comes a calm with two 2-0 wins over Xanthi and Lamia.

Greeks more consistent domestically

In the Greek competitions – Superleague and Cup–, AEK has been stronger and the stats prove that.

With 22 goals scored, the team is among the best attacks of the championship and it is the second-best defense behind the leader PAOK, eliminated by Benfica, in the Champions League play-off. The gold and black are an offensive team and they feel comfortable with the ball on their feet. With 57% ball possession, they are only overcome by Olympiacos.

In collective terms, Benfica's opponents are still in various rankings in the Greek Super League. They are the second highest scoring team (179), the second highest dribbling team (371) and is also fifth in the crosses (212) and fouls suffered (211).

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Facebook AEK