On Tuesday evening (15/08) AEK took the first decisive step towards qualifying for the Champions League playoffs and defeated Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 in Maksimir despite being behind. A big twist on a special night by the killing of the team’s 29-year-old fan Michalis Katsouri a few days earlier by Croatian hooligans in New Philadelphia.

Leader in the big games

its players Matias Almeida They managed to turn their pain into will, their momentum into strength, and finally their will into a truly great victory. The leader of the impressive comeback was none other than him Steven Zuber. The man who has linked his name to crucial goals more than anyone in the past year. The Swiss midfielder sacrificed a World Cup to find himself and saw his efforts rewarded by winning the double last season.

A double that made his signature widely known. Signing goals, great performances and crucial goals. Essentially, the 32-year-old Swiss started this year’s course in the yellow and black jersey where he left off last year. It’s not just the superb goal he scored against the Croatians, but his overall image that has AEK fans in raptures.

In a position that is ideal for him, the position of second striker, Zuber manages to develop his rich talent and his special quality in every game. He succeeds in combining fantasy with substance. The goals with the big wins and the important points.

Synonymous with decisive goals

Just like last season. Beginning with the encounter with Ionian at Nicaea. There are quite a few who believe that stressful win over Nicaea played a pivotal role in both AEK’s journey to the title and Zuber’s own journey to the Promised Land. A Zuber who suffered from a serious injury in the first half of the season that did not allow him to make himself felt but also, as said, to take part in the World Cup with the Swiss national team. But on the night of January 22, a lot changed.

Zuber’s progress continued to increase from game to game. And the decisive goalscorer against Atromitos in Peristeri confirmed he is capable of leading AEK in the playoffs at a difficult time for the Union due to Sergio Araujo’s major injury absence. The Swiss didn’t chew. He came forward and was without a doubt AEK’s MVP in the mini-league. Not in words but in deeds.

On Day 4 of the playoffs, Aris seemed to have AEK in the pot. A development that could be fatal for the yellow-blacks in the title fight with Panathinaikos. However, Zuber did not have the last word. He came on as a substitute in the 60th minute and again made the difference by scoring in the 82nd minute and in the 90th + 5th minute. Scored two goals in the minute. Especially the first goal of the Swiss was really impressive.

It was he who, days later, put AEK back on top with a triumphant 4-0 win over PAOK in the burning OPAP Arena. The 32-year-old midfielder took advantage of Dominik Kotarski’s mistake and punished his opponent to make it 1-0 for his team.

But the crucial goals don’t stop there. In the game against Aris in Thessaloniki, where the championship was effectively sealed, Tzumber was again the one who “sealed” the big surprise shortly before the end of the first part and ensured the 2-1 equalization.

You don’t lose with Zuber

The icing on the cake came three days later at the OPAP Arena, where he paved the way for a resounding 4-0 win over Volos in which the yellow-blacks celebrated their 13th league title.

It is noteworthy that the Swiss has scored nine goals with his team from January 2023 to date he has seven wins And only one loss (that of Olympiakos 3-1 at OPAP Arena) in the games he has scored. It is therefore obvious that one hardly loses with Zuber.