AEK ready to finish the job against Celtic
AEK ready to finish the job against Celtic
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - 3RD QUALIFYING ROUND (LEG 2)
Aiming to qualify for the UEFA Champions League playoffs, Super League winners AEK Athens host Celtic in the Greek capital with the third qualifying round tie level at 1:1. AGONAsport previews the duel.
Initially, AEK came into the battle as slight underdogs, but the Athenians performed admirably in Scotland, holding Celtic to a gritty 1:1 draw. Following a poor start, Callum McGregor fired Celtic in front with a close-range finish, but impressive winger Viktor Klonaridis equalised emphatically to silence a packed Celtic Park. In a dramatic second half, Konstantinos Galanopoulos received a controversial red card for two bookable offences, but a combination of stout defending and excellent goalkeeping from Vasilis Barkas kept the level score intact.
Boasting the away goal advantage, the Kitrinomavri are in pole position at the Olympic Stadium and simply need to keep Celtic off the scoreboard in order to advance. Nevertheless, the Greeks have drawn four consecutive European matches in Athens, while Celtic are seasoned professionals at moving through the Champions League qualification rounds.
With the 2018/2019 Super League set to begin on August 25, AEK didn’t play at the weekend, but Celtic struggled in the Scottish Premiership with a surprise 0:1 setback away to Hearts. However, it must be said that Celtic fielded a weakened team with the emphasis on the Champions League.
TEAM NEWS: AEK
Unfortunately for boss Marinos Ouzounidis, he cannot call upon the services of the suspended Konstantinos Galanopoulos or the injured Dmytro Chygrynskiy and Lucas Boye. In more positive news, captain Petros Mantalos has been included in the squad to face Celtic and there’s a strong possibility he will begin the match on the bench. Alef will probably replace Galanopoulos and play alongside Andre Simoes in midfield.
Possible line-up: Barkas, Bakakis, Lampropoulos, Oikonomou, Hult, Simoes, Alef, Lopes, Klonaridis, Bakasetas, Livaja.
TEAM NEWS: CELTIC
Star French striker Moussa Dembele has been cleared to take part in the second match against AEK and he will pose a real threat to the Enosis defence. On the other hand, defender Dedryck Boyata is unavailable to play after expressing anger at not being granted a transfer, and Celtic were occasionally vulnerable at the back in Scotland. Technically gifted winger James Forrest caused AEK problems in the first game and will attempt to repeat the trick.
Possible line-up: Gordon, Lustig, Hendry, Simunovic, Tierney, Brown, Ntcham, McGregor, Forrest, Rogic, Dembele.
REFEREE: VLADISLAV BEZBORODOV (RUS)
45-year old Russian referee Vladislav Bezborodov will be the man in the middle at the Olympic Stadium. Since finishing his playing career in 2002, Bezborodov turned his hand to refereeing, receiving his FIFA badge in 2009. Considered one of Russia’s best, he boasts plenty of experience working over Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches, also taking charge of international fixtures.
Referee: Vladislav Bezborodov (RUS)
Assistant referees: Valery Danchenko (RUS), Maxim Gavrilin (RUS)
Fourth official: Sergei Ivanov (RUS)
WAYS TO QUALIFY
If the game finishes 0:0 or in favour of AEK, the Kitrinomavri will qualify for the Champions League playoff round. Celtic must win or grab at least a 2:2 draw or greater (3:3, 4:4 etc) to earn qualification. A 1:1 tie sees the match enter extra time.
WHERE TO WATCH
Watch the match on AGONAsport here, available worldwide except in Greece and Cyprus! Find full TV listings for Greece, the USA, Canada and Australia can be found on this link.
by Shaun Nicolaides
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