AEK Athens returns to Champions League group stage

AEK Athens secured a victory in their first UEFA Champions League group stage match in twenty years, defeating Austrian side LASK. The match, marking the return of the Greek club to the competition's main stage since 2006, saw Razvan Marin score the opening goal via a free kick in the first half.

Hungarian players Barnabás Varga and Milán Vitális both featured for AEK Athens. Varga, who has maintained a strong scoring form in recent matches, and Vitális, who played in the midfield, were part of the starting lineup. Despite AEK's dominance in possession during the second half, LASK managed to equalize during stoppage time through a header by Sasa Kalajdzic, though the attempt narrowly missed the target.

The new Champions League format features 36 teams, with each club playing eight matches—four at home and four away—through January. The top eight teams will advance directly to the round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will enter a playoff phase.