AEK Athens
Levski Sofia
AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia Predictions, Picks & Odds – 26/08/2026
AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia – Best bets of the match
AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia Preview
AEK Athens head into this second leg at the OPAP Arena brimming with confidence after demolishing Iraklis 1908 4-0 in their Greek Super League opener. Luka Jovic bagged a brace in that rout, with Zini and Barnabas Varga also finding the net. Manager Marko Nikolic is unlikely to tinker much with a side that looked sharp and clinical. AEK have won eight of their last eleven home matches, and the OPAP Arena crowd will be a factor.
Levski Sofia arrive in Athens unbeaten in fifteen consecutive matches across all competitions, a run that underlines their resilience under Julio Velazquez. The Bulgarian champions hammered Spartak Varna 6-0 at the weekend, with Armstrong Oko-Flex grabbing two goals. However, Velazquez will be without several key players through injury for this crucial tie. Levski defended stoutly in the goalless first leg but offered little going forward, and AEK struck the crossbar through Jovic.
The 1X double chance pick looks well-grounded here. AEK Athens have won eight of their last eleven home matches, and the first leg showed they were the more dangerous side, with Luka Jovic striking the crossbar. Levski Sofia must now chase the game on hostile territory, which plays directly into AEK's hands at the OPAP Arena.
Levski arrive in Athens on a fifteen-match unbeaten run, but their manager Julio Velazquez is dealing with several injury absences for key personnel. AEK's attacking firepower was evident in that 4-0 league rout, where Jovic, Zini, and Barnabas Varga all found the net. The home side's sharpness in the final third should prove decisive against a depleted visiting squad.
Backing AEK Athens to win or draw covers the most likely outcomes in a tie they control. The home win price at 1.55 reflects their clear superiority, while 4.00 provides additional cover should Levski's defensive resilience hold firm again. Over 2.5 goals at N/A also merits consideration given AEK's recent scoring exploits. Odds correct at time of publication.
Trends to Know about AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia
- AEK won 8 of 11 home games
- Levski missing several key players through injury
- Jovic hit crossbar in goalless first leg
Form & Statistics: AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia
AEK Athens
Recent form
Season statistics (1)
Levski Sofia
Recent form
Season statistics (5)
Lineups: AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia
AEK Athens
Starters
- 1 Thomas Strakosha
- 2 Lazaros Rota
- 3 Harold Moukoudi
- 4 Filipe Relvas
- 5 Stavros Pilios
- 6 Kaan Kairinen
- 7 Razvan Marin
- 8 Lovro Majer
- 9 Aboubakary Koita
- 10 Zini
- 11 Luka Jovic
Bench
- Barnabas Varga
- Petros Mantalos
- Mijat Gacinovic
- Oleksandr Zubkov
- Domagoj Vida
- Orbelín Pineda
- Marios Balamotis
- Alberto Brignoli
Absent
- Alexander Callens (injury)
- Milan Vitalis (Cup-tied (appeared in Conference League for Gyor earlier in the year))
Levski Sofia
Starters
- 1 Svetoslav Vutsov
- 2 Aldair Neves
- 3 Kristian Dimitrov
- 4 Nikola Serafimov
- 5 Álex Centelles
- 6 Mehdi Moubarik
- 7 Armstrong Oko-Flex
- 8 Serginho
- 9 Everton Bala
- 10 Reinaldo
Bench
- Juan Esteban Perea Sanchez
- Hevertton Santos
- Stivan Stoyanchov
- Gašper Trdin
- Ognian Vladimirov
- Martin Lukov
Absent
- Christian Makoun (injury)
- Maicon (injury)
- Mustapha Sangaré (injury)
- Stipe Vulikic (injury)
- Akram Bouras (injury)
- Radoslav Kirilov (injury)
- Oliver Kamdem (injury)
- Mazire Soula (Inguinal hernia)
- Asen Mitkov (Unknown injury)
- Karl Fabien (Muscle injury)
Medium confidence
A 4-4-2 against a 4-2-3-1 sets up an intriguing midfield battle in this Champions League play-off second leg. Lovro Majer and Razvan Marin will look to control the tempo for AEK Athens, while Levski's double pivot of Moubarik and Maicon must absorb pressure and protect a potentially vulnerable backline.
For AEK, Luka Jovic leads the attacking line in a system built to stretch Levski's defensive shape with width and direct runs. Levski, compact and counter-minded, will rely on the pace of Oko-Flex and Everton Bala to threaten on the break and keep this tie alive.
AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia: Head-to-Head
Average statistics (recent meetings)
How to Watch AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia Match?
What time is AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia?
AEK Athens welcome Levski Sofia to the OPAP Arena on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, with kickoff at 20:00 local time.
Where is AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia being played?
This match takes place at the OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece.
How Can I Watch AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia on TV and Live Stream?
Check local listings for Champions League broadcast details on AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia.
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