AEK – Rayo Vallecano

The Athens club will be closer to victory in the return match.

AEK Athens over the last ten years has missed only one European competition season, remaining among the top positions in the Greek championship. During this period the team has failed to surprise anyone in continental tournaments, only once reaching the playoffs. At the same time, the Greek team's experience in European competitions is incomparably higher than that of their upcoming opponents. Rayo Vallecano tasted European cups 25 years ago, and since then for a quarter of a century in the Spanish leagues has struggled to live up to that status with its sporting achievements. Most players on the Madrid side are taking part in tournaments of this kind for the first time. In this regard, the opponents are on a different level even after AEK's 0-3 defeat in Madrid. In that match, according to statistical summaries, the Athens side created one more goal-scoring chance than the opponent, but managed to convert none. At the same time, Rayo Vallecano took advantage of nearly every chance to score. In any case, the worst has already happened for AEK. The team didn't just lose; it was crushed. No one really expects a comeback from them, so the Greek players are not feeling the pressure. Bookmakers named the home team as the favorites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 2.06 on their victory. AEK has a fairly solid, competitive squad that is currently convincingly leading the final stretch of the domestic championship. Before the Madrid clash, AEK on the road quite comfortably dispatched Olympiakos, which once again characterizes the team's level. Given the special status of European competition for Greek clubs, it is unlikely that after the 0-3 defeat the Athens players will give up and quietly concede a place to the semi-finals to the opponents. Rayo Vallecano spent a long time near the relegation zone of La Liga, but recently has clawed back a status as a mid-table side in Spanish elite. On Sunday, the Madrid club was crushed 3-0 away by Mallorca. AEK dreams of the same result. Rayo Vallecano this season has rarely looked convincing away from home, even against teams of a lower class than the upcoming opponent. The hosts will be closer to victory in the return leg.