Dramatic fall from grace for reigning champions AEK
You could say that AEK’s defence of the Super League title isn’t going to plan. After 14 rounds of play, the Athenians are languishing in fourth place, trailing leaders PAOK by a huge 14 points.
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Just a few months ago, things were all rosy in Nea Filadelfeia. Having won the 2017/2018 Super League in dramatic circumstances, AEK entered the UEFA Champions League in the third qualifying round, and they impressively ousted Celtic and Vidi to make the group stage for the first time in 12 years. The Enosis started the new domestic campaign with three consecutive wins too, but after losing 0:2 to PAOK on matchday four, matters took a rapid downturn. Alongside becoming the first Greek club in history to go point-less in the Champions League, AEK have struggled for form in the Super League, and a three-point deduction for fan trouble in the 1:1 derby draw with Olympiacos in October certainly didn’t help their plight.
With 14 rounds in the books, AEK sit in fourth position of the Super League table with 28 points, 14 behind first placed PAOK. Could anyone have predicted such a sharp fall from grace? Probably not. Yes, taking into account the departures of Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Sergio Araujo, Ognjen Vranjes and head coach Manolo Jimenez it was always going to be an uphill struggle, but new boss Marinos Ouzounidis has failed to get the best out of his squad. Owner Dimitris Melissanidis refused to purchase adequate replacements for the players which AEK lost and his stingy tendencies are coming back to haunt the Enosis.
If AEK continue their dreadful form in 2019, they’re in danger of breaking their own anti-record. Back in the 1994/1995 Greek championship, AEK were aiming to keep the trophy in Nea Filadelfeia, however they contrived to finish in fifth place with an overwhelming 21 points separating the Enosis and champions Panathinaikos! Apollon Athens, PAOK and Olympiacos were also ahead of AEK in the standings.
A lot depends on AEK’s activity in the winter transfer window. According to various reports, they’ve close to securing the signature of Serbian central midfielder Nenad Krsticic from Red Star Belgrade, however more enforcements are needed to make AEK competitive again. The defence has been rather shaky at times, and as always, AEK are seriously lacking a prolific goalscorer. Many Kitrinomavri supporters have expressed their annoyance at Melissanidis’ reluctance to dig deep into his pockets.
AEK return to Super League action in early January with a match against Levadiakos at the Olympic Stadium. Ironically, in the 2017/2018 season, AEK clinched the title with a 2:0 win over the same opponents in Athens. Ambitions are very different this time around.
