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Champions LeagueChampions LeagueFull time
16th · Home
Full time1–0
28th · Away
Răzvan Marin 21'
Venue Allwyn ArenaReferee L. M. Branco GodinhoWatch (UK) TNT Sports 2 / Amazon Prime Video

AEK Athens v Lask Linz prediction: Champions League preview, line-ups & tips

AEK Athens host Lask Linz at the Allwyn Arena as both sides open their Champions League league phase campaigns full of confidence after dramatic play-off wins.

Jon Fisher
Published
Mon 7 Sept, 23:12
Updated
Wed 9 Sept, 04:04

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Round 1 stakes for AEK Athens v Lask Linz

AEK Athens open their Champions League league phase campaign at the Allwyn Arena against a Lask Linz side making its first appearance in Europe's top club competition in more than six decades. Both clubs arrive having survived dramatic play-off ties, and both currently top their domestic leagues. A win here sets an early marker in a 36-team table where the bottom eight drop out after eight rounds with no safety net.

BET FOOTBALL
AEK Athens FCAEK Athens FC
1–0
Full time
Lask LinzLask Linz
Tue 8 Sept, 17:45•Allwyn Arena

Path to the league phase for AEK Athens v Lask Linz

AEK Athens booked their place after a goalless first leg away to Levski Sofia was followed by a 4-0 win at home, with Barnabás Varga scoring twice and Luka Jović contributing a goal and an assist to complete the job. M. Nikolić's side arrive unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions.

Lask Linz needed something extraordinary against Celtic. They lost the first leg 3-0 in Glasgow before winning the return 5-1 at home to progress on penalties of form rather than the scoreboard alone, a genuine smash-and-grab that has them full of belief heading into Athens.

Rotation risk for AEK Athens v Lask Linz

Neither side has European pedigree at this level to fall back on, so expect close to full-strength teams from both managers. Nikolić has no reason to experiment against a side he'll want to beat to build early momentum in the group. João Pedro Machado Sacramento is similarly unlikely to rotate heavily given how costly a slow start to Lask's return to continental football would be.

Last 6 · most recent left
AEK Athens FCAEK Athens FC
No recent formW0 D0 L0
Lask LinzLask Linz
No recent formW0 D0 L0
Champions League · season 2026 · UEFA Champions LeagueLive snapshot
#TeamPGDPts
15ArsenalArsenal1+13
16AEK Athens FCAEK Athens FC1+13
17AS RomaAS Roma101
18Shakhtar DonetskShakhtar Donetsk101
19PSV EindhovenPSV Eindhoven101
20FenerbahçeFenerbahçe101
21VillarrealVillarreal1-10
22LilleLille1-10
23Slavia PrahaSlavia Praha1-10
24Club Brugge KVClub Brugge KV1-10
25InterInter1-10
26Atletico MadridAtletico Madrid1-10
27NapoliNapoli1-10
28Lask LinzLask Linz1-10
29VikingViking1-20
Champions League
Last 1 meetings · most recent first
  1. 8 Sept 26AEK Athens FC1–0Lask LinzAEK Athens FC
Home wins
1
Draws
0
Away wins
0
Goals · H / A
1 / 0

Line-ups

AEK Athens FCAEK Athens FC4-4-2
  • 91GA. Brignoli
  • 12DL. Rota
  • 2DH. Moukoudi
  • 44DFilipe Relvas
  • 3DS. Pilios
  • 14ML. Majer
  • 27MM. Vitális
  • 18MR. Marin
  • 11MA. Koita
  • 19FB. Varga
  • 9FL. Jović
Manager · M. Nikolić
Lask LinzLask Linz5-3-2
  • 1GL. Jungwirth
  • 20DK. Jørgensen
  • 4DX. Mbuyamba
  • 43DAlemão
  • 16DA. Andrade
  • 2DG. Bello
  • 6MM. Bogarde
  • 10MR. Ljubičić
  • 30MS. Horvath
  • 8FM. Usor
  • 27FC. Lang
Manager · D. Kühbauer

Where to watch AEK Athens v Lask Linz: TV and online streams

Kick-off is at 17:45 BST on Tuesday. The match is shown on TNT Sports where selected, with TNT Sports 2 confirmed as the live channel in Great Britain, and it's also available via Amazon Prime Video for subscribers. There is no extra-time or penalty shoot-out arrangement to factor in, this is a single group-stage fixture decided over 90 minutes.

Stats for AEK Athens v Lask Linz

  • AEK Athens have won 1 and drawn 1 of their last 2 competitive fixtures on record, scoring 4 goals and conceding none
  • Lask Linz have scored 5 and conceded 4 across their last 2 matches, both against Celtic in the play-off round
  • AEK sit 6th in the early Champions League table on goal difference after a 1-0 win in matchday one, with a WWD form line
  • Lask began the competition without a points return from their opening fixture at the time of writing
Headline prediction · our pick
✓ HitConfidence · medium

match result: aek athens to win

AEK Athens have not conceded in their last two outings and looked ruthless once they broke Levski Sofia down in the play-off second leg. Lask's route to Athens involved shipping three goals in Glasgow before the fightback, and that defensive fragility is a concern against a home side with genuine firepower up front in Varga and Jović. Both teams have scored freely enough recently that goals at both ends look the likely shape of this one, but AEK's control at home should be the difference.

Best Price8/11bet365 · score 2-1
✓ Prediction landed
TIP 01✗ Miss

Correct Score: 2-1

AEK have scored first in each of their last five matches and rarely let leads slip at home, while Lask's habit of conceding early, as they did against Celtic, points to a goal for the visitors too. A 2-1 scoreline captures both patterns and lines up with the wider market view that this is close to a coin flip beyond the opening goal.

TIP 02✗ Miss

Over 2.5 Goals: Over

Lask's last six matches have all produced more than two goals, and AEK have scored 4 in their most recent outing alone. Both sides look set up to attack rather than sit in, and the bet365 price of 4/6 reflects a market that expects goals. Backing Over 2.5 makes sense given the attacking identity on show from both managers so far this season.

TIP 03✗ Miss

Both Teams to Score: Yes

Lask have scored in every one of their last six matches and AEK have failed to score just once in their last two, so the underlying pattern favours goals at both ends. Kühbauer's side conceded three in Glasgow, evidence their defensive discipline can be breached even against strong opposition. AEK's home form, unbeaten in eight across all competitions, should still be enough to see them home.

TIP 04✗ Miss

Anytime Goalscorer: Varga

Varga scored twice in the play-off second leg against Levski Sofia and was described as AEK's obvious attacking focal point heading into this tie. He has been prolific in continental football over his last 15 starts and gets a first Champions League proper appearance here. A confident finisher in form is a solid shout at anytime odds.

TIP 05✓ Hit

Double Chance: Home or Draw

AEK are unbeaten in six matches and have home advantage at the Allwyn Arena, making a home loss the least likely of the three outcomes. Double Chance offers cover if Lask's attacking form from the Celtic tie translates into a leveller. It's a low-odds pick but a sensible hedge given how tight the bet365 match odds actually are compared with the underlying form gap.

Build the AEK Athens FC v Lask Linz bet

BetFootball Builder · 3 Legs✗ Miss
Home Win
✓ Hit
Match Result
8/11

The base of the builder. AEK's unbeaten run and home advantage make them favourites, and this leg anchors the other two picks around a home win rather than a high-risk correct score alone.

Yes
✗ Miss
Both Teams to Score
1/2

Complements the Home Win leg rather than duplicating it, since AEK can win 2-1 or 3-1 and still satisfy both markets. Lask's habit of shipping goals but also scoring them, as they did in both legs against Celtic, supports this leg independently of the result.

Varga
✗ Miss
Anytime Goalscorer
3/2

Adds a specific route to the home win rather than just backing the scoreline blind. Varga scoring fits neatly with both a home win and a BTTS outcome, giving the builder three legs that support rather than contradict each other.

Combined Price
11/2
Stake£10.00
Returns£64.87
Profit+£54.87