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

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

The Spanish aspect 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 part, ending in third place after profitable 4, drawing one and dropping considered one of 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 at the moment are hanging by a thread following a heavy 3-0 loss in Spain final week.

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

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

That mentioned, Marko Nikolic‘s aspect have gained by no less than three objectives in 4 of their earlier six aggressive dwelling video games, together with a 3-0 success in opposition to Kifisia of their most up-to-date outing on the Allwyn Arena.

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

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 part.

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

Rayo loved extra success in final week’s quarter-remaining 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 at the moment are 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 costs, 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 outcome additionally represented their fifth defeat of their previous eight aggressive away matches (W1, D2), though they’ll take confidence from the very fact they’ve misplaced simply considered one of their 5 away video games within the Conference League this season (W3, D1).

AEK Athens Conference League type:

WWWWLL

AEK Athens type (all competitions):

WDLWWL

Rayo Vallecano Conference League type:

LWWWLW

Rayo Vallecano type (all competitions):

DLLWWL

Team News

© Imago / One Inch Productions

Marko Grujic, Joao Mario, Robert Ljubicic and Hakim Sahabo are ineligible after being omitted of AEK’s Conference League squad.

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

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-alternative goalkeeper Augusto Batalla will have the ability to shake off the knock he sustained within the first leg.

After making adjustments 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:

Battle; Ratiu, Lejeune, Felipe, Chavarria; Lopez, Ciss; Akhomach, Palazon, Garcia; Of fruits

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-aim deficit, however that can depart area for Rayo to take advantage of, and with that in thoughts, we expect the second leg may produce an thrilling draw that in the end sees the Spanish aspect by means of the final 4.

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