Greek champions to test the hosts' resolve: prediction for Vitesse vs AEK Athens
Vitesse
AEK Athènes
The friendly clash between Vitesse and AEK Athens is set for July 15, 2026, at the GelreDome in Arnhem. The Dutch club continues its preparations for the new Eerste Divisie season, while the reigning Greek champions are building form ahead of their Champions League qualifying campaign.
Vitesse: last season's results were deceiving
Vitesse finished last season in 15th place in the Dutch second division, but that standing doesn't tell the full story of the team's true strength. The club was docked 12 points, which stripped them of a playoff chance: without the penalty, Arnhem would have shared seventh place.
This summer, the team has already played two friendlies. First, Vitesse drew with Roda, then edged out Borussia Dortmund II with a narrow win, showing decent defensive organization.
AEK Athens: champion pedigree despite imperfect readiness
Marco Nikolić's debut season in Athens was a triumph: AEK won the Greek title and reached the quarterfinals of the Conference League. Now, the team faces an even greater challenge - qualifying for the main stage of the Champions League.
The Greek side's official fixtures won't begin until August, so the squad is still far from peak physical condition. Nevertheless, the difference in quality is clear, and last Sunday AEK already defeated another Dutch side - De Graafschap - by a 2-1 scoreline.
Match facts
- Vitesse were docked 12 points last season; without the penalty, they would have finished tied for seventh place in the Eerste Divisie.
- AEK became Greek champions and reached the quarterfinals of the Conference League.
- The Athens club won their last friendly against De Graafschap 2-1.
The visitors to make their class count: prediction for Vitesse vs AEK Athens
Vitesse are gradually finding their rhythm and can pose problems for their opponents on home soil. The Dutch side already have several friendlies under their belt and could take advantage of AEK being in the early stages of their preseason.
However, the Greek champions boast a higher-quality squad and gained valuable international experience last season. Even without being at their sharpest, Nikolić's men should create more dangerous moments and secure a second consecutive win over Dutch opposition.
