Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
A spot in the Conference League third qualifying round will be at stake when AEK Athens and Velez Mostar take on each other in the Greek capital on Thursday. AEK aim to overcome a one-goal deficit in the return leg, and we are positive that the Greeks will go all guns blazing at the Bosnian outfit. A man to keep an eye on in the home side will be Iran international Karim Ansarifard, who found the net in the first leg.
Velez Mostar, on the other hand, have been producing fine displays at the start of the season, with the team eyeing their eighth consecutive win in all competitions. Considering that AEK failed to impress in the first leg, we predict that the visitors are going to book their place in the Conference League third qualifying round.
Highlighted Player (Petros Mantalos):
Petros Mantalos is a Greece international who plays for AEK Athens as a midfielder. Mantalos was born in Komotini, Greece on August 31, 1991, starting his youth career at Xanthi. Speaking of his senior career, the right-footed midfielder played for Skoda Xanthi before joining AEK Athens in 2014.
Mantalos has established himself as a first-team regular at AEK and he played an important role in the team that won the national championship in the 2017/2018 season. To make things even better for the fans, AEK Athens booked their place in the Champions League thanks to a win over Celtic in the play-off.
Petros Mantalos made his international debut with Greece on September 7, 2014 against Romania. The AEK midfielder scored his first ever goal for the Greece national football team in a 2-1 win over Australia in June, 2016. His main position is attacking midfielder, but he is capable of playing as both central and left midfielder as well.
Highlighted Team (AEK Athens):
Established in 1924, AEK Athens are one of a number of Greek clubs based in Athens. The Enosis (Union) are well known for their passionate fans and Original 21 are considered the club’s main supporters’ group. AEK Athens play their home games in black shirts with yellow stripes and black shorts, while they often wear gray jerseys and yellow shorts when facing their rivals on the road.
Olympic Stadium in Athens is the club’s home ground and the venue can hold up to 69.618 people. AEK share rivalries with fellow capital clubs Panathinaikos and Olympiakos and the rivalry with Olympiakos was inflamed in 1996, when AEK former ace and then-coach joined the Thrylos. AEK have 12 Greek Super League trophies, but it has to be noted that they clinched their last domestic title back in 1994.
Speaking of the Greek Cup, the Enosis won their 15th trophy in the competition in 2016, with the team beating Olympiakos in the title game. In the 1966/1967 season AEK made it to the UEFA Cup semis, but Italian giants Juventus proved to be a big catch for the Greek side.