AEK Athens and Brighton & Hove Albion lock horns in a pivotal Europa League Group B encounter at the OPAP Arena on Thursday, November 30, 2023. The Greek outfit is desperate for a victory to revive their qualification hopes, while the Seagulls seek to solidify their position in the top two.
Match preview
AEK Athens currently occupy third place in the group with four points, trailing Brighton by three points. Their campaign has been a mixed bag, with a win, a draw, and two defeats. They face an uphill battle but can still salvage their European dreams with a home triumph.
Brighton & Hove Albion, on the other hand, are enjoying a fine run in Europe, having won their last two matches against Ajax.
They currently sit in second place with seven points and are well-placed to secure a knockout stage berth. However, a victory against AEK Athens would guarantee their place in the next round.
Team News
AEK Athens
AEK Athens have no major injury concerns ahead of this match. They are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Giorgos Athanasiadis in goal.
The back four is likely to consist of Michalis Bakakis, Doredos, Željko Filipović, and Panagiotis Chatzitheodoridis.
In midfield, Steven Zuber and Damian Szymański are expected to start, with Ndoj, Nikos Christopoulos, and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos playing in front of them. Up front, Sergio Araujo is expected to lead the line.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion have a few injury concerns ahead of this match. Adam Webster, Enock Mwepu, and Levi Colwill are all out with injuries, while Solly March and Moisés Caicedo are doubtful.
Roberto De Zerbi is expected to rest some of his key players for this match, as they have already qualified for the knockout stages of the Carabao Cup.
Match Predictions
This match is a must-win for AEK Athens if they want to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive. However, Brighton & Hove Albion are the stronger team on paper and are expected to win.
Betting Tips
Brighton & Hove Albion to win
Under 2.5 goals
Both teams to score
AEK Athens vs Brighton & Hove Albion Possible Line-ups
AEK Athens (4-2-3-1): Athanasiadis, Bakakis, Doredos, Željko Filipović, Panagiotis Chatzitheodoridis, Zuber, Szymański, Ndoj, Nikos Christopoulos, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Araujo
Brighton & Hove Albion (4-3-3): Sánchez, Webster, Duffy, Dunk, Sarmiento, Groß, Mac Allister, Caicedo, Lallsocea, Undav, Trossard
Head-to-Head
This will be the third meeting between the two clubs. Brighton & Hove Albion won the previous two encounters, both in the Europa League this season.
Time, Venue, and Where to Watch
The match will be played at the OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 6:45 pm WAT. The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport. in Nigeria.
Stay tuned for more updates and match coverage on Pulse Sports.