AEK Athens
- AEK Athens took a commanding 4-0 lead in their UEFA Conference League 2025-2026 Round of 16 tie against NK Celje last week and are expected to cruise into the quarter-finals with a routine home victory this Thursday.
- AEK Athens are in the top two in the Greek Super League and pushing for the title.
- Agia Sophia Stadium will be packed to finish the tie off with home support behind the hosts.
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Recent form:
- With three wins and two draws in their last five games in all competitions, including two 4-0 wins, AEK look a team on a mission in the domestic and European arenas.
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Recent form:
NK Celje
- NK Celje have been disappointing in March, losing three straight games after a high-scoring double over Drita.
- But after their 4-0 defeat at home in the first leg, Albert Riera’s side have more of a mountain to climb than the odds suggest.
- The visitors are a structured team who like to control the pace of games and play in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system.
- Celje are top of the Slovenian PrvaLiga and also have a +30 goal difference.
Key Players
- Celje
- Franko Kovačević is still Celje’s best forward, but Nikita Iosifov and Danijel Šturm can provide goals and creativity from midfield and the flanks, where Vitali Lisakovich and Andrej Kotnik are good at creating overloads and making the ball travel.
- AEK Athens
- Harold Moukoudi is the linchpin of AEK’s defense and is always a threat in the air on set plays.
- Luka Jović, a proven finisher, leads the line.
- Aboubakary Koïta offers pace and goals from wide areas and the hosts have the strength in depth and overall quality to make the Slovenians pay.
Betting Insights
- Bookmakers make the Greek side 1.24 favorites to progress.
- If AEK ease off in the second half the Under 2.5 goals option at 2.45 could be of interest to the more adventurous bettor.
Prediction
AEK Athens are expected to finish the job and progress to the quarter-finals with a routine home win.
