AEK vs Áris: Overview

AEK Athens secured their place in the next round of the UEFA Europa Conference League with a convincing 3-1 victory over Áris Lemesoú at the Agia Sophia Stadium on Thursday evening. Following a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Cyprus last week, the Greek side showed their quality at home to progress with a 5-3 aggregate scoreline.

The atmosphere at the Agia Sophia Stadium was electric as the home supporters created a cauldron of noise to push their team forward. AEK's superior technical ability gradually told as they dominated possession and created numerous chances against their Cypriot opponents.

Petros Mantalos orchestrated the midfield masterfully for AEK, while Roberto Pereyra's creativity proved too much for the Áris defense to handle. The visitors put up a spirited fight, with Giorgi Kvilitaia causing problems for the AEK backline, but ultimately lacked the quality to progress.

This result sees AEK advance to the play-off round of the Europa Conference League, keeping their European dreams alive. For Áris Lemesoú, their European adventure ends, but they can hold their heads high after pushing a stronger opponent all the way across two competitive legs. The Cypriot side showed admirable resilience, particularly in securing a 2-2 draw at home, but AEK's experience at this level ultimately proved decisive.

"We showed our true character tonight. After the disappointing draw in Cyprus, we knew we had to deliver a complete performance at home. The players responded brilliantly, controlling the game from start to finish. Our qualification was never in doubt, but we respect Áris for making us work hard across both legs," stated AEK coach Marko Nikolić.

"Our squad depth was evident today. The ability to bring quality from the bench made the difference in the second half when Áris were tiring. Now we look forward to the play-off round with confidence," he added.

"We gave everything, but AEK showed their quality tonight. The atmosphere was incredible and perhaps intimidated some of our younger players initially. I'm proud of how we competed across both legs against a team with significantly more European experience," admitted Áris coach Arciom Radźkoŭ.

"This European experience will be invaluable for our development as a club. We've shown we can compete at this level, and the 2-2 draw in the first leg was a highlight for us. Now we must focus on our domestic campaign," explained Radźkoŭ.

"The tie was decided by small margins. We created chances in both matches but lacked the clinical edge that AEK possessed. Their experience in these competitions showed in the crucial moments," stated Giorgi Kvilitaia, Áris Lemesoú's forward.

The statistical breakdown of the match highlighted AEK's dominance, with the Greek side commanding 63% possession compared to Áris Lemesoú's 37%. This control translated into 17 total shots for AEK, with 8 on target, while the Cypriot visitors managed just 6 shots with 3 testing Thomas Strakosha in the AEK goal.

The home side's pressure was further evidenced by the 9 corners they forced, compared to just 2 for Áris. In terms of discipline, the tense nature of the knockout tie was reflected in the card count, with AEK receiving 2 yellow cards and Áris collecting 3 cautions as they attempted to contain their more illustrious opponents.

Individually, Răzvan Marin was the statistical standout for AEK, completing 94% of his passes and creating 4 chances from midfield. For Áris, goalkeeper Zine Vaná made 5 saves to prevent an even more emphatic scoreline, while Mihlali Mayambela completed the most dribbles (3) among the visiting players.

The physical contest saw AEK win 58% of aerial duels, with Harold Moukoudi particularly dominant in the air. The Greek side's technical superiority was further demonstrated by their 432 completed passes against Áris' 201, highlighting the differing approaches of the two teams in this crucial European qualifier.

7' - Close call for AEK as Kvilitaia broke through the defensive line, but Strakosha made a crucial save to keep the scores level early on.

23' - GOAL! AEK 1-0 Áris Lemesoú - Orbelín Pineda opened the scoring with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the box after a well-worked team move, giving the hosts the lead on aggregate.

39' - GOAL! AEK 2-0 Áris Lemesoú - Roberto Pereyra doubled the advantage with a clinical finish after being set up by a precise through ball from Mantalos, putting AEK firmly in control.

51' - GOAL! AEK 2-1 Áris Lemesoú - Against the run of play, Mihlali Mayambela reduced the deficit with a powerful strike following a counterattack, giving the visitors a glimmer of hope.

64' - Tactical shift - Áris coach Radźkoŭ made a double substitution and switched to a more attacking formation in search of an equalizer that would put pressure on the hosts.

77' - GOAL! AEK 3-1 Áris Lemesoú - Frantzdy Pierrot sealed the victory with a towering header from Rota's precise cross, extinguishing any hopes of a comeback from the Cypriot side.

90+3' - Final whistle - AEK confidently saw out the remaining minutes to secure their place in the play-off round with a 5-3 aggregate victory.

The two-legged tie between AEK Athens and Áris Lemesoú represented their first-ever competitive meetings, adding a layer of unpredictability to the encounter. With no historical data to analyze, both teams approached the initial match with caution, resulting in the entertaining 2-2 draw in Cyprus.

The aggregate 5-3 score in favor of AEK reflects the overall quality difference between the Greek and Cypriot leagues, though Áris Lemesoú proved to be more competitive than many expected. This series established what could become an interesting rivalry between clubs from neighboring Mediterranean nations.

On the individual level, the battle between AEK's experienced midfield orchestrator Petros Mantalos and Áris' defensive unit was particularly fascinating. Mantalos' ability to find space and thread passes ultimately proved decisive across both legs. Similarly, the contest between Áris forward Giorgi Kvilitaia and AEK defenders Harold Moukoudi and Filipe Relvas was evenly matched, with the Georgian striker causing problems but ultimately being contained in the crucial second leg.

In terms of tactical approach, AEK's possession-based style contrasted with Áris' more direct counter-attacking game plan. This stylistic clash produced an entertaining tie that showcased different footballing philosophies from the Greek and Cypriot leagues. While AEK's technical quality eventually told, Áris' organization and determination made them worthy opponents in this UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying round.

As this was a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying match, there is no league table to update. However, the result significantly impacts both teams' European campaigns for the 2025/26 season.

AEK Athens now advances to the play-off round of the Europa Conference League, where they will face one more two-legged tie to secure their place in the competition's group stage. This continues their consistent presence in European competitions, maintaining their status as one of Greece's representatives on the continental stage.

For Áris Lemesoú, their European journey ends at the third qualifying round. The Cypriot side will now focus exclusively on domestic competitions, where they will aim to secure another European qualification spot for next season. Despite the elimination, their performance across both legs against a stronger opponent demonstrates their potential to compete at this level.

Both clubs will be watching the upcoming draw with interest – AEK to learn their play-off opponents, and Áris to discover which teams they might potentially face should they qualify for European competition again next season. For Cypriot clubs like Áris, reaching even this stage of European qualification represents a significant achievement and provides valuable experience and financial rewards.