Champions League
Almeida’s Champions League qualification plan: thoughts on Levi Garcia and Ponce
Historic rematch for AEK in New Philadelphia looking to qualify for Champions League groups and beat Antwerp. Almeida’s plan to enter the stars and the deployment aimed at deploying the Union.
AEK want to finish the job and achieve the first goal of the year: qualifying for the Champions League groups. To do so, they must beat Antwerp, who lead 1-0 in the first leg, at the OPAP Arena (30.08., 22:00, COSMOTE Sport 2, MEGA And Live Sportish).
Matias Almeida wants his players to be patient in their game, not rush and not lose their positions on the pitch so that they stay true to their plan to create the surprise. Because, as he emphasized in the press conference, there is a risk that they will be threatened by counterattacks.
Antwerp is a team “mother” when it comes to counterattacks and has footballers with enough speed to do damage in the yellow-black defensive transition. That’s why he wants the players to be cool. The second problem is the rating. The Union creates a lot of chances, some of them in very good conditions, but they find it difficult to score.
“Pelados” believes that AEK is on the right track in this respect as long as they work hard and achieve the goals. Against Antwerp they need at least two goals to qualify, so they have to take advantage of the chances that come their way. If she manages to solve these two problems, the chances of qualifying are very high and the game is in her hands.
Of course, the data will be different in this game. AEK will have the crowd on their side in the packed OPAP Arena (350 Antwerp fans will also be in the stadium). The world with the right mindset (like Dinamo Zagreb) can propel Union to the desired result and… to the stars.
In full armor, the yellow-blacks go to the second leg against the Belgians. Contrary to initial estimates, Levi Garcia eventually entered the mission. The 25-year-old forward went through a special program and was feeling better, but the odds of him starting as a regular starter are not in his side.
Also Stankovic, who didn’t play in the first game against Belgium, is usually in the squad as he has overcome the ailments that plagued him and feels 100% ready to help his side and step up.
Expected AEK XI in the final against Antwerp
Based on the above data, the Argentine engineer will bring the Union into line with the “established” agreement. Stankovic will sit under the rafters. Vida and Mukudi will face off in central defence, Rota will return to the right flank and Hadjisafi will play on the left.
Simanski is expected to play in the center with Pineda in front of him as Jonson has played the whole game against Panseraikos with the Pole being fresher. Gacinovic will line up on the left and Amrabat on the right, while Zuber will flank Ponce up front.
A ‘surprise’ with Levi Garcia at the helm is not out of the question (provided he feels 100% ready to play), while Sergio Araujo also claims a place in the starting XI.
AEK’s mission for the second leg with Antwerp: Stankovic, Athanasiadis, Ginis, Mukudi, Mohammadi, Rota, Vida, Mitoglou, Hadjisafi, Sidibe, Simanski, Jonsson, Gatsinovic, Pineda, Mandalos, Galanopoulos, Amrabat, Garcia, Zuber, Araujo, Ponce, Eliasson, Pizarro.
Source: Sport 24
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
Former coach of Dynamo Kiev Alexander Showkovsky He should have been sacked in August after a poor performance in the Champions League qualifiers.
The blue-whites, who lost twice to Cypriot Paphos in the 3rd round of the European Cup (0:1 and 0:2), were relegated to the Europa League and then promoted to the Conference League.
“I know that Dinamo management believes that a change of coach could and should be made in the summer, after they lost to Paphos in the Champions League qualifiers.
Then an opportunity arose. But the necessary candidate was not available,” the source said.
Due to the lack of alternatives, the president of the Kiev club decided to leave Shovkovsky as head coach, but in November the Ukrainian specialist was nevertheless fired and left Dynamo.
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
We continue to examine the future of Donetsk shakhtar To buy tickets directly to the main stage Champions League 2026/27.
This will be possible if the place reserved for the team that wins the Champions League trophy is redistributed.
All important moments of the match are available in LIVE mode Telegram Sport.ua
Donetsk Miner They are in fourth place with a coefficient of 50.250 among the clubs competing for a possible position at the heart of the Champions League.
In the last European week, the Donetsk club added +2.625 points. This increase was achieved with a 0-0 draw with Croatian Rijeka in the 6th round of the Conference League and a sixth place in the main round final table.
Main rival Greek Olympiacos – 56,500 points remaining. The Miners can regain the 6,250-point lead if they perform well in the spring part of the European Cups.
It is interesting that Shakhtar lost the first place in the UPL (Cherkasy has the same number of points as LNZ – 35 points each), and Olympiacos lost the lead in Greece to the AEK team (36 points against 37). Ukrainian striker Roman Yaremchuk plays for the team of the city of Piraeus.
Positions rangers (59,250), 4th in Scotland and Copenhagen (53.375), placed 5th in Denmark, looks less competitive in the rankings due to its position in the national championships. Leader only in championships Dinamo Zagreb And RB Salzburg (44,000 each) but there is no certainty that the turn will come.
Let us remind you that if the cup holder buys a ticket to the Champions League through the national championship, there will be a vacancy in the main squad in the 2026/27 Champions League. In this case, a balance will arise again and if Shakhtar wins the UPL and is ahead of Olympiacos in the UEFA club rankings (or the Greek club does not become the champion of Greece), it can get a direct ticket to the base of the Champions League.
If the Piraeus team is higher in the rankings and takes advantage of the available space, the Donetsk club will start from the 4th quarter of the Champions League, not the 2nd quarter, in case they win in the UPL.
Candidates for direct tickets to the Champions League 2026/27 main stage
(In case the quota reserved for the Champions League champion becomes vacant)
UEFA Club Rankings 2026
infographics
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
Champions League
Pedri commented on the new format of the Champions League: An unexpected look from a football player
Barcelona midfielder pedri He answered the question about his attitude towards the new format of the Champions League with the general group stage.
“Do I like the new format of the Champions League? I can’t say with 100% certainty which format I like more: this one or the previous one?”
If I have to choose, I will do something new: There were more matches between strong teams in the first stage,” said Pedri, as quoted by Esquire.
Before the 2024/2025 season, the group stage of the Champions League consisted of eight groups of four clubs each. All participants played six matches in their respective foursomes, home and away, against each of the three opponents.
From the 2024/2025 season, a new Champions League format comes into force with a common group stage of 36 clubs; each participant plays eight matches, four away and four at home; The opponents are determined by lot.”
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.
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