Who will claim a ticket to the Champions League elite? Prediction for the AEK vs Levski match
On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 21:00 Central European Time, the opening whistle will sound at the OPAP Arena in Athens for the decisive second leg of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League play-off round: Greek side AEK host Bulgarian outfit Levski Sofia.
The first meeting in Sofia was a tense, cagey affair that ended in a goalless draw (0-0). Now, the fate of a coveted place in the revamped Champions League main draw will be decided in Athens.
Before this Champions League play-off round, the two teams had never crossed paths in official UEFA competitions. The clash in Sofia was extremely tight and cautious: the Bulgarian side relied on a deep defensive block and strict discipline, while the Greek giants dominated possession but refrained from pushing the tempo. AEK had a golden opportunity to snatch victory when Luka Jović struck the woodwork, but the game logically concluded in a scoreless stalemate (0-0), leaving all the intrigue for the return leg in Athens.
AEK
The Greek champions were in ruthless form last weekend, thrashing Iraklis 4-0 in their domestic league opener. Luka Jović is firing on all cylinders (a brace in the league and a shot off the bar in Sofia), while the support from Lovro Majer, Răzvan Marin, Aboubakari Koita, Răzvan Marin and Zini gives AEK a massive creative edge.
On home turf, AEK traditionally dominate, winning eight of their last eleven matches at the OPAP Arena. With the passionate support of their home fans, the "yellow-blacks" are expected to press aggressively from the opening minutes, hunting for an early goal.
Levski
The Bulgarian side are riding a remarkable unbeaten streak, going 15 matches without defeat across all competitions, including six consecutive clean sheets. Over the weekend, Julio Velázquez's men demolished Spartak Varna 6-0.
However, their trip to Athens is complicated by a severely overcrowded injury list, with several key players sidelined. In Greece, the "Blues" will be forced to play on the back foot, relying on rare bursts from Armstrong Oko-Flex and Everton Bala.
Probable line-ups
- AEK: Strakosha - Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilios - Majer, Kairinen, Marin, Koita - Jović, Zini
- Levski: Vutsov - Aldair, Dimitrov, Serafimov, Centelles - Mehdi Moubarik, Maicon, Serginho - Oko-Flex, Bala, Reinaldo
Prediction
On the line are tens of millions of euros in Champions League prize money. Neither side will take unnecessary risks, and Levski's compact defensive block is likely to keep scoring at a premium. My prediction: Total goals under 2.5.
