Monday. Athens. Olympic stadium named after Spiros Louis. AEK – “Corfu” – 3:1. The 38th minute. A strike doubles the score. Photo: sports.ert.gr

The FC Dynamo Kyiv opponent in the Europa League continues to hold the lead in the Greek League.

The Greek League

14-th round

AEK – KERKYRA – 3:1 (2:0)

Goals: Giannakopoulos, 12 – own goal (1:0). Horse, 38 (2:0). Araujo, 56 (3:0). Nunes, 88 – from a penalty (3:1).

AEK (Athens): Cantatas, Rodrigo, Galu, Lambropoulos, CHYGRYNSKIY, Backaches, andré Simões (Ajdarevic, 71), KONE, Christodoulopoulos (Yakoumakis, 62), Bakasama (USIS, 82), Klonaridis, Araujo.

11 Dec. Athens. Olympic stadium named after Spiros Louis.

AEK, on Thursday produced in Vienna “Ernst Happel” a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League (needed a draw against Austria – and got 0:0), played in the championship on Monday, concluding the tour. More days he had to stay in a not very usual in this season, the role of the owner and fourth place.

However, almost no one doubted that, after meeting with the club, reaching the penultimate, the team of Manolo Jimenez, the status quo will be reinstated. Even in the absence of several key players. Odds to win AEK in the area of 1.15…

It was not the best scorer Marko Lebanon, stronghold of defense Ognina Vranesh, left back Helder Lopes, a talented young midfielder Constantinos Galanopoulos. However, the owners immediately besieged the gates of the club based on the island of Corfu, although the account was opened under rather curious circumstances. Viktor Klonaridis has submitted from the left flank, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (long, agree, name – and-right winger is just “Lazaros”) tweaked the ball.

He still had become easy prey for the goalkeeper, but he parried it awkwardly, hitting a Christodoulopoulos. After Bouncing seems to have caught at the second attempt, but more awkward movement he threw it into the goal.

But the second goal of AEK turned out downright gorgeous. Infrequently enter the composition and midfielder Panagiotis KONE great took the upgrade away to him from outside the penalty area the ball and scored from 20 metres under the post. The goalkeeper did not move.

Before the break the yellow-and-black could have scored more, but not particularly zealous. Not scoring, not upset. Knew that chances still are. In the 56th minute the opportunity presented itself Sergio Araujo, to whom the ball bounced almost as much as a Horse, only a little closer to the gate. And the shot was not so spectacular. But no less effective – 3:0. And only at the end of the match, the visitors pulled one goal back from the penalty spot.

On Saturday, the AJC takes the “Apollo” of Smirnis, occupying the third place finish. The problem here is also not expected.

– It’s difficult to play after such heavy games, as in Vienna, said field coach of the Athenians Manolo Jimenez. – Especially – with our crowded infirmary. But I’m glad the team is showing character, because we have to win to stay on top.

In January we definitely need to increase. The players are good, but these 15-16 people may not be enough to fight on three fronts. Because of the big summer changes in the composition we had to redesign the scheme, and not everyone was able to adapt to new requirements. Not all have time to recover. In any case, can’t do the match more than three substitutions.

Happy for the Horse, finally showing a game that was expected of him. He worked hard, sacrificing themselves to improve. Today he was great, but maybe even better. However, it’s nice to see that in the beginning of the season did a duet Simoes – Johansson, then Simões – Galanopoulos in this game handled the Horse with Igorevichem. But still we have to find a replacement Johansson…

Swedish midfielder Jakob Johansson was talking about coach, really, a key figure in midfield, working equally well both for defense and attack. Although defense is certainly better, because if necessary, are able and in the centre of defence to play. The timing of his recovery is not yet known.

It is worth noting that Jimenez is not talking about the search for a replacement captain Petros Mantalos, incapacitated until roughly April. Then just have to wait, because the equivalent replacement for little money is still not found, and if you spend money, you will then choose either this or that.

Asked Jimenez and what he thinks about the draw. He replied:

– Frankly, the “Dynamo” is not the opponent I’d like. First of all, because it has a lot in common with CSKA, whom we lost in the Champions League qualification this summer. Perhaps he had no such reputation as Arsenal or Atletico Madrid, but has the same strength and quality.

The Ukrainian team has good players, and play in Kiev in February was very difficult. I have no doubt that during the break, the Dynamo will be strengthened, will choose to prepare the country with a mild climate such as Spain or Turkey. But we were not born yesterday. We have our trumps, we will fight and we will do everything to go on…

Eugene BELOZEROV, Sport-Express in Ukraine