Preview: AEK Athens vs Rayo Vallecano – prediction, team news, lineups

Rayo Vallecano will journey to Greece for Thursday’s Conference League quarter-last second leg in opposition to AEK Athens.

The Spanish facet boasts a wholesome benefit after operating out 3-0 winners within the first leg at Vallecas. 

Match preview

AEK carried out strongly within the league section, ending in third place after profitable 4, drawing one and shedding one in all their six video games.

The Greek giants went on to beat Celje by a 4-2 mixture scoreline within the final 16, however their hopes of profitable their first European trophy are actually hanging by a thread following a heavy 3-0 loss in Spain final week.

With no home sport on the weekend, AEK have had every week to give you a comeback plan as they bid to succeed in the semi-finals of a European competitors for the primary time because the 1976-77 UEFA Cup.

Thursday’s hosts have received 5 of their seven Conference house matches this season (together with qualifying), though just one has come by a margin of three objectives or extra.

That mentioned, Marko Nikolic‘s facet have received by at the least three objectives in 4 of their earlier six aggressive house video games, together with a 3-0 success in opposition to Kifisia of their most up-to-date outing on the Allwyn Arena. 

AEK can be hoping that house benefit can encourage them to overturn a 3-objective first-leg deficit in a European tie for the primary time because the 1976-77 UEFA Cup quarter-finals, once they fought again from three objectives right down to beat Queens Park Rangers on penalties.

© Imago / ZUMA Press Wire

Rayo, in the meantime, superior straight to the final-16 after ending in fifth place and degree on 13 factors with AEK within the league section.

Los Franjirrojos backed up their robust league section efficiency with a 3-2 success over Turkish facet Samsunspor within the final 16.

Rayo loved extra success in final week’s quarter-last first leg in opposition to AEK, which noticed them declare a commanding 3-0 victory due to efforts from Ilias Akhomach, Unai Lopez and Isi Palazon.

They are actually on the verge of surpassing their efforts from their run to the 2000-01 UEFA Cup quarter-finals, with Los Franjirrojos only one sport away from making their first final-4 look in European competitors.

Unfortunately for Inigo Perez‘s fees, they may head to Greece on the again of a 3-0 away defeat in opposition to Mallorca, which leaves them in 13th spot and simply three factors away from La Liga’s backside three.

The end result additionally represented their fifth defeat of their previous eight aggressive away matches (W1, D2), though they will take confidence from the very fact they’ve misplaced simply one in all their 5 away video games within the Conference League this season (W3, D1).

AEK Athens Conference League kind:

W W W W L L 

AEK Athens kind (all competitions):

W D L W W L 

Rayo Vallecano Conference League kind:

L W W W L W

Rayo Vallecano kind (all competitions):

D L L W W L 

Team News

© Imago / One Inch Productions

Marko Grujic, Joao Mario, Robert Ljubicic and Hakim Sahabo are ineligible after being not noted of AEK’s Conference League squad. 

The membership’s captain, Petros Mantalos, is about to overlook the second leg after being pressured at half time in Spain with a muscle damage.

Luka Jovic picked up his third reserving of the competitors within the first leg, ruling him out of the return fixture as a result of suspension.

As for Rayo, Randy Nteka, Abdul Mumin, Joszhua Vertrouwd and Fran Perez are all ineligible to function within the Conference League knockout rounds. 

The guests are hopeful that first-selection goalkeeper Augusto Batalla will be capable to shake off the knock he sustained within the first leg. 

After making modifications on the weekend, Perez may resolve to pick out the identical lineup that began final week’s dominant first-leg efficiency.

AEK Athens doable beginning lineup:

Strakosha; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas; Pilios; Koita, Pineda, Marin, Pereyra; Gacinovic; Varga

Rayo Vallecano doable beginning lineup:

Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Felipe, Chavarria; Lopez, Ciss; Akhomach, Palazon, Garcia; De Frutos

We say: AEK Athens 2-2 Rayo Vallecano (Rayo to win 5-2 on mixture)

AEK should take dangers in a bid to overturn the three-objective deficit, however that may depart area for Rayo to take advantage of, and with that in thoughts, we expect the second leg may produce an thrilling draw that finally sees the Spanish facet by the final 4. 

For information evaluation of the most certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.