AEK’s home run gives Madrid a reason to look beyond recent form
AEK’s recent defeats make their European campaign look increasingly difficult, but their record at home tells a different story. Madrid arrive after six successive victories, with three wins from three in the Champions League, and will need to find a way past a side that has been difficult to beat on its own ground.
AEK’s recent results make this look like a difficult assignment, but Madrid should not mistake that for a straightforward away game. The Greek side have lost only once in their last 12 home matches in UEFA competition, a record that gives them a genuine reason to believe they can make life uncomfortable for the visitors.
Madrid have the greater attacking quality, but AEK’s strength at home gives them a chance to make the visitors work harder than their recent form might suggest.
The contrast in current form is clear. AEK have lost their last two matches, against PAOK and Panathinaikos, after opening their Champions League campaign with a win over LASK before defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester City. Madrid, meanwhile, have won all three of their European matches and six in a row across all competitions, scoring 18 goals during that run. Their latest was a 3-0 victory at Racing Santander.
That is the challenge for AEK: turn their home strength into something Madrid have to deal with, rather than allowing the visitors to settle into their attacking rhythm. Madrid have more firepower and arrive in better form, but AEK’s record at home is a reminder that recent results alone do not tell the whole story. The hosts need to make this a contest, not simply survive one.
