Glorious memories of 2006 rekindled with Champions League return
It wasn’t easy, but after 12 years away, AEK Athens have made their glorious return to the UEFA Champions League group stages with victories against Celtic and Vidi in the qualifying rounds. In connection with the achievement, AGONAsport looks back at AEK’s campaign in the 2006/2007 edition of the tournament.
Watch LIVE from AGONAsport: PAOK - Benfica, UEFA Champions League Playoffs on Wednesday August 29th. Details here.
In the 2005/2006 campaign, AEK finished in second place of the domestic championship behind Olympiacos, in turn entering next season’s Champions League in the third qualifying round. Pitted against Scottish side Hearts, the Nea Filadelfeia based club claimed a dramatic 2:1 victory in Edinburgh with Pantelis Kapetanos’ goal and Nikos Liberopoulos’ deflected strike the difference, before Julio Cesar (2) and Liberopoulos sealed a 3:0 home triumph to hand AEK a spot in Group H with AC Milan, Anderlecht and Lille.
Let’s take a closer look at AEK’s matches in Group H of the 2006/2007 UEFA Champions League:
September 13, 2006. AC Milan - AEK - 3:0
The first match couldn’t have been more daunting. For their opening fixture in Group H, AEK were charged with the task of playing AC Milan, a team which boasted world superstars such as Kaka, Paolo Maldini, Cafu, Dida and Filippo Inzaghi. Unfortunately for the Enosis, Milan made the perfect start at the San Siro, as Inzaghi nodded home on 17 minutes and Yoann Gourcuff doubled their advantage late in the first half with a pinpoint header. Kaka’s penalty completed the rout, condemning AEK to an emphatic 0:3 loss in Italy.
September 26, 2006. AEK - Anderlecht - 1:1
When Nicolas Frutos gifted Anderlecht the lead at the Olympic Stadium, the Kitrinomavri’s faithful support were beginning to worry, but Julio Cesar popped up with a vital equaliser just three minutes later to get AEK back on level terms. In the ascendancy, the Athenians dominated proceedings, but they failed to make their superiority count as Anderlecht held on to leave Greece with a hard-earned point.
October 17, 2006. Lille - AEK - 3:1
In the first half, AEK did well to nullify the French threat and keep Lille at bay, but midway through the second Mathieu Robail eventually broke through. AEK’s Vladimir Ivic scored with an instant reply for the visiting team, but in the final eight minutes of play, Daniel Gygax and Jean Makoun both hit the jackpot to sink AEK.
November 1, 2006. AEK - Lille - 1:0
Nevertheless, in a match to savour, AEK gained revenge on Lille with a brilliant 1:0 win in Athens to finally record their maiden victory in the group. In the knowledge that they had to take the three points in order to stay in contention, the home side took the game to Lille, creating plenty of chances and scoring the only goal with a superb Nikos Lyberopoulos effort from long range.
November 21, 2006. AEK - AC Milan - 1:0
A night which will never be forgotten. Before the match started, no one even gave AEK a prayer of somehow defeating the mighty AC Milan, but they defied the odds to create history. Predictably, Milan were the more offensive team and forced opposing goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino into a number of top stops, but AEK struck the game’s sole goal with an intelligent free-kick from Julio Cesar. Inzaghi smacked the post for Milan in the second half, but AEK weren’t to be denied a memorable triumph.
December 6, 2006. Anderlecht - AEK - 2:2
Sadly, the Champions League campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion. Heading into the match, AEK were hoping to gain at least a point in Belgium and rely on Lille not beating AC Milan, but the French club surprisingly won 2:0 in Italy and dumped the Enosis out. After Anthony Vanden Borre and Frutos had put Anderlecht two to the good, Vasilis Lakis and Bruno Cirillo dragged AEK back into the match with a couple of goals, but they couldn’t find that all-important third marker.
With eight points from six matches, AEK finished in third place of Group H and moved into the UEFA Cup, falling short against Paris Saint Germain 0:4 on aggregate in the first knockout round.
