AEK Athens v LASK Linz
Play By Play
AEK Athens begin their Champions League campaign with a victory in the league phase, defeating LASK 1-0. The winning goal arrived in the first half, as Marin scored with a wonderful free-kick from around 20 yards out. They had already missed a chance to open the scoring inside the first few minutes, as Jovic was denied by Jungwirth. The Serb thought he had scored his first goal in the competition after the break, yet it was ruled out after a VAR intervention as Majer was found to be offside. LASK had a glorious chance to equalise right at the end of the contest, but Kalajdzic missed the target with a header after Brignoli had miscalculated from a corner. In terms of xG, the home side ended with 1.59, while LASK generated 0.81. AEK Athens next travel to Astera Tripolis, while LASK are away to Sturm Graz. That's all from me, thank you and goodbye!
FULL-TIME: AEK ATHENS 1-0 LASK
WHAT A CHANCE AT THE DEATH! LASK win a corner in the second minute of additional time, and it's delivered by Horvath. Brignoli flaps at the cross, and it's looped into the path of Kalajdzic, but he can only direct his header over the crossbar!
Arriaga replaces Maja as AEK Athens make another substitution.
The home side make another change as Gacinovic comes on for Koita.
There will be three additional minutes.
AEK Athens miss out on the chance to clinch the victory as Rota is found in space on the counter-attack. He picks out Zine in the box, but his effort is blocked on the line. It eventually falls to Koita moments later, but he blazes an effort well wide of the goal. They will hope to not rue these chances.
LASK have the ball deep inside the AEK Athens half, but there's a lack of space in the centre and they are resorting to crosses from either flank. Bello whips in a delivery from the left, but it's easily dealt with. Time is running out for the Austrian champions.
Andrade has to concede the corner after glancing away a dangerous cross from the right. LASK have battled hard, although they're struggling to get on the ball in these latter stages. Majer whips in the delivery, but Varga can only direct his header over the crossbar by some distance.
Zine enters the fray, replacing Jovic. That will be the home side's first substitution of the night.
Andrade is booked after cynically bringing down Varga on the edge of the area. Marin takes the free-kick, but his shot is blocked by the wall.
Horvath finds Schopf in a promising position inside the area, but the substitute's flick fails to find the captain, and AEK Athens can clear their lines. That will have been hugely frustrating for the away side, as the forward had plenty of options if he looked up.
There's a break in play following a collision in the air between Bello and Rota. Both are tended to by the medical staff and will be waved back on imminently.
Another change from the away side as Kalajdzic comes on for Lang.
LASK are beginning to enjoy more of the possession again, but they are struggling to turn that control into clear-cut opportunities. AEK Athens are holding their shape well and repeatedly forcing the visitors backwards whenever they look to make progress in the final third. A poor pass from Mbuyamba sees the ball go out for a goal-kick.
LASK's attacking endeavour has faded as the half has wore on, which was also the case in the first half. They do win a corner, but Horvath takes its short and ultimately the opportunity is wasted as they are forced back. The captain made a bewildering choice on that occasion - his side need a goal.
The ball is now exclusively being played in LASK's half of the pitch. AEK Athens are enjoying arguably their best spell of pressure in the match. They want that second goal after believing that they had doubled their advantage just moments earlier.
They complete the double substitution as Ljubicic comes off for Schopf.
LASK make their first change of the night as Flecker replaces Jorgensen.
Jovic looks to have scored his first goal in the competition as he produces a brilliant diving header to meet Majer's cross, but the decision is overturned following a VAR decision as the latter is adjudged to have been offside. It remains 1-0.
Jovic both scored and assisted in their Champions League play-off round second leg – a 4-0 win vs Levski Sofia – though across his 12 matches and 322 minutes of action in the competition proper throughout his career, he’s still yet to record a goal contribution.
We have passed the hour mark, and AEK Athens still lead 1-0. They are largely in control of this match, but have to be wary of the threat that LASK could pose if the deficit remains at just the one goal. The Austrian side will not go down without a fight.
Despite that enterprising start at the beginning of the half, AEK Athens have now dropped their defensive line deeper, limiting the space for LASK to roam into and exploit. The Greek side are looking more compact without the ball, making it tougher for the visitors to find openings in dangerous areas.
This is AEK Athens’ 12th overall Champions League/European Cup campaign, despite having not featured since the group stage in 2018-19. Overall, only Olympiakos (32) and Panathinaikos (22) have made more appearances in the competition among Greek sides.
The second half has started at a frantic tempo, with both sides opening up and the game becoming increasingly stretched. Jovic is almost put clean through, but he has to check back inside. The ball eventually finds Koita, but the move breaks down and LASK are able to revert back into their defensive shape.
