Rayo Vallecano are set to make the trip to Athens this Thursday with a commanding three-goal cushion as they prepare for the Conference League quarter-final second leg against AEK Athens. The Spanish outfit delivered a clinical performance in the first leg at Vallecas, securing a 3-0 victory that has left their Greek counterparts facing a mountainous task if they harbour any hopes of progressing to the semi-finals.
AEK’s European campaign began with considerable promise during the league phase, where they secured third position after an impressive run of four wins, one draw and just a single defeat across their six fixtures. The Athens-based club then navigated past Celje with a 4-2 aggregate victory in the round of 16, but their ambitions of lifting their maiden European trophy now hang precariously in the balance following last week’s comprehensive defeat in Spain.
With no domestic fixtures scheduled over the weekend, manager Marko Nikolic has had the luxury of a full week to devise a tactical approach capable of engineering what would be a remarkable turnaround. AEK are bidding to reach the semi-finals of a European competition for the first time since the 1976-77 UEFA Cup, a feat that underlines both the significance of Thursday’s encounter and the rarity of such opportunities for the Greek giants.
The home side’s European pedigree at the Allwyn Arena cannot be dismissed lightly, having won five of their seven Conference League home matches this season, including qualifying rounds. While only one of those victories came by a margin of three goals or more, their recent domestic form has been emphatic, with four wins by at least three goals in their previous six competitive home fixtures. Their most recent outing at home saw them dismantle Kifisia 3-0, suggesting they possess the attacking firepower necessary for Thursday’s challenge.
AEK Athens face uphill battle in Conference League quarter-final return leg
History does offer a glimmer of hope for the Greek side, who famously overturned a three-goal deficit in the 1976-77 UEFA Cup quarter-finals against Queens Park Rangers, ultimately prevailing on penalties. However, replicating such heroics nearly five decades later against a Rayo side brimming with confidence will require a near-perfect performance.
Los Franjirrojos progressed directly to the last 16 after finishing fifth in the league phase, level on 13 points with AEK. They maintained their momentum with a 3-2 aggregate triumph over Turkish opposition Samsunspor before delivering their most impressive performance of the campaign in last week’s first leg. Goals from Ilias Akhomach, Unai Lopez and Isi Palazon have positioned Rayo on the brink of surpassing their run to the 2000-01 UEFA Cup quarter-finals.
Should they complete the job in Athens, it would mark the first time in the club’s history that they have reached the semi-finals of a European competition. Manager Inigo Perez will be acutely aware, however, that his side travel to Greece on the back of a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Mallorca at the weekend, a result that leaves them languishing in 13th position in La Liga and uncomfortably close to the relegation zone.
That loss extended a concerning trend of inconsistency away from home, with Rayo suffering five defeats in their last eight competitive fixtures on the road. Yet their European away record tells a different story, having lost just once in five Conference League matches away from Vallecas this season, winning three and drawing one. As we’ve observed throughout this campaign, Rayo appear to elevate their performance levels in European competition.
Team news presents complications for both sides, with AEK missing captain Petros Mantalos through injury after he was withdrawn at half-time in Spain. Forward Luka Jovic will also be absent due to suspension after collecting his third yellow card of the competition. Several players including Marko Grujic and Joao Mario remain ineligible, having been omitted from the club’s Conference League squad.
Rayo are sweating on the fitness of first-choice goalkeeper Augusto Batalla, who sustained a knock in the first leg but is hopeful of featuring. The visitors have several players ruled out of the knockout rounds, including Randy Nteka, Abdul Mumin and Fran Perez. Our sources indicate that Perez is likely to revert to the starting eleven that performed so impressively in the first leg after making wholesale changes for the weekend’s domestic fixture.
The dramatic nature of European knockout football means nothing can be taken for granted, but Rayo’s three-goal advantage and superior away form in this competition suggest they are firmly in control. AEK will need to conjure something truly special at the Allwyn Arena if they are to keep their European dream alive and prevent the Spanish visitors from making history.