AEK Athens announces squad for Champions League playoffs

AEK Athens has submitted its official squad list to UEFA for the upcoming Champions League playoff matches against Levski Sofia. Head coach Marko Nikolic has included 22 players in the primary list, featuring summer signings such as Kaan Ayari, Lovro Maier, and Oleksandr Zubkov. Notable absences from the squad include Milan Vitalis and Christos Alexiou due to eligibility issues, while Niklas Eliasson and James Penrice are expected to depart the club.

Levski Sofia has also prepared for the two-legged tie, with over 6,500 tickets already sold online. The Bulgarian champions have postponed domestic league fixtures to focus on the European playoffs. Analysts, including former AEK player Milen Petkov, suggest Levski may hold a competitive advantage due to their superior match rhythm compared to AEK, who have primarily played friendlies.

The first leg is scheduled for August 18 in Sofia, with the return leg taking place at the Allwyn Arena on August 26. AEK has announced that season ticket holders will receive priority access to tickets for the home match with a 25% discount.