Leaky defence costing AEK

When AEK won the 2017/2018 Super League, the Kitrinomavri only conceded 12 times over the course of the entire season, but this time around they have already let in 10 goals after just eight rounds.

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The defensive problems are there for all to see. With eight games in the books, AEK have already conceded 10 goals in the Super League, their worst record since returning to the top flight in 2015:

2015/2016 season: 9 goals conceded in 8 games

2016/2017 season: 8 goals conceded in 8 games

2017/2018 season: 6 goals conceded in 8 games

2018/2019 season: 3 goals conceded in 8 games

2019/2020 season: 10 goals conceded in 8 games

The two conceded goals against Olympiacos on Sunday were cheap. In the ninth minute of proceedings, AEK were punished for not fully clearing the ball as Ruben Semedo subsequently tapped it home at point blank range, before Mohamed Camara was left completely unmarked on the edge of the area when he doubled Olympiacos’ lead in the latter stages. AEK had also conceded two soft goals against newly-promoted Volos NFC on matchday seven.

In late September, AEK performed well in attack against PAOK at the Olympic Stadium and scored twice in the second half, but they were lucky to claim a 2-2 draw as several defensive lapses gifted the visitors plenty of golden opportunities. Goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas saved AEK from defeat with alert stops.

Ognjen Vranjes, who returned to AEK on loan from Anderlecht this summer, has been prone to mistakes and was particularly poor against Olympiacos. Full-backs Niklas Hult, Helder Lopes, Paulinho and Michalis Bakakis are suspect when defending, Dmytro Chygrynskiy is not as reliable as in previous seasons and Marios Oikonomou often commits errors. It remains to be seen if the management strengthen the defensive line in the upcoming winter transfer window.

Incidentally, AEK have not emerged victorious in any of their last 10 games against either Olympiacos, Panathinaikos or PAOK across all competitions. AEK’s next chance to snap this miserable streak will arrive on November 10 against Panathinaikos at the Olympic Stadium.

Last 10 AEK derby results in all tournaments:

AEK - PAOK - 0-2 (Greek Cup)

PAOK - AEK - 2-0 (Super League)

AEK - Olympiacos - 1-1 (Super League)

Panathinaikos - AEK - 0-0 (Super League)

AEK - PAOK - 1-1 (Super League)

Olympiacos - AEK - 4-1 (Super League)

AEK - Panathinaikos - 0-0 (Super League)

PAOK - AEK - 1-0 (Greek Cup)

AEK - PAOK - 2-2 (Super League)

Olympiacos - AEK - 2-0 (Super League)

KLONARIDIS INJURY PROBLEMS CONTINUE

At the start of the season, Viktor Klonaridis was in promising form with Miguel Cardoso at the helm, but matters took a quick turn for the worse and he last played for AEK in the 2-2 draw against PAOK in Athens. Klonaridis wasn’t included in the squad for the matches with AE Larissa, Volos and Olympiacos.

Recent medical examinations have confirmed that Klonaridis suffered a tendon rupture in training. The 27-year-old will remain on the sidelines for a prolonged amount of time.

Barkas and Petros Mantalos are continuing to train individually. On the other hand, a knock to the right ankle of Bakakis isn’t as bad as initially thought, and Francisco Geraldes is ready to play again.

by Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: sport-fm.gr

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