AEK Athens faces OFI Crete in the Greek Super Cup at Pankritio Stadium on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00. The match between the league champions and the cup winners takes place in a packed stadium just days before both teams start their European campaign. The game is broadcast live on SKAI.
AEK enters the match as the favorite after winning its third league championship since returning from the Gamma Ethniki division. Head coach Marko Nikolic has kept the core squad that won the Super League title while making targeted summer signings. The club aims to retain its domestic title and qualify for the UEFA Champions League main phase.
AEK named a starting lineup featuring Balamotis, Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pillios, Kairinen, Marin, Kaloskamis, Koita, Varga, and Jovic.
Nikolic saw last season's most valuable player Orbelin Pineda return to his home country during the transfer window. Key players Joao Mario, Roberto Pereyra, and Robert Ljubicic also left the club. AEK reinforced its midfield by acquiring Kaan Kairinen, Lovro Majer, and Milan Vitalis. Winger Oleksandr Zubkov was added to bolster the right side of attack, while defender Christos Alexiou will also receive playing time.
OFI Crete squad and preparations
OFI Crete is competing in the Greek Super Cup for the second consecutive season. Last year, OFI played as the cup runner-up and lost to Olympiacos, but head coach Christos Kontis leads the team this year as winners of the EPO Cup competition. The Cretan team seeks to win the first Super Cup trophy in its history and build momentum ahead of the UEFA Europa League play-offs.
OFI suffered three losses in three pre-season friendly matches against Dutch clubs, though Kontis expressed no concern over the results. During the summer, the squad lost long-serving captain Vasilis Lambropoulos, cup final most valuable player Levan Shengelia, and midfielder Juan Neira. OFI signed Andreas Bouchalakis and Michalis Sielis from Panetolikos, former Panathinaikos winger Aitor Cantalapiedra, and center-back Dimitris Nikolaou, who brings experience from Italian football.
OFI selected a starting lineup consisting of Christogeorgos, Poungouras, Sielis, Kostoulas, Athanasiou, Apostolakis, Karachalios, Androutsos, Aitor, Fountas, and Nuss.
Match officials and referee appointments
Anastasios Papapetrou of Athens was appointed referee for the Super Cup match. He is supported by assistant referees Tryfon Petropoulos of Arcadia and Petros Patras of Macedonia, with Alexandros Katsikogiannis of Epirus serving as the fourth official.
Spyridon Zampalas of Epirus was named video assistant referee for the fixture. He will be joined in the video room by assistant video referee Meletios Gioumatzidis of Pella.
