A Greek tragedy in the making for Celje

If you’re a fan of suspense, look elsewhere. If you’re a fan of foregone conclusions and watching a Slovenian side get slowly roasted over a Mediterranean spit, then pull up a chair. AEK Athens are currently treating the Conference League like a training session for the Champions League they forgot to qualify for.

After a 4-0 demolition in the first leg, this return fixture is less of a football match and more of a formal eviction notice. AEK finished the league phase in a staggering 3rd place, picking up 13 points and generally behaving like the school bully in a playground full of toddlers. They are currently on a run of form that would make even the most cynical Greek tax official crack a smile.

Then we have NK Celje. Bless them. They clawed their way through the play-offs like a tired mountaineer only to realize the summit they reached was actually the edge of a cliff. Their form is as stable as a house of cards in a hurricane, boasting three losses in their last five matches. They arrived in the first leg with hope and left with a four-goal deficit that feels more like a CRUSHING debt.

The atmosphere in the Agia Sophia Stadium will be electric, mostly because the home fans know they can spend ninety minutes mocking the opposition while planning their flights for the quarter-finals. AEK don’t just win games; they SUFFOCATE them. Celje will need a miracle involving at least three Greek gods and a very confused referee to even find the back of the net.

Expect the Yellow and Black to rotate the squad, rest the stars, and still find enough time to score a few goals while the Celje defense wonders where it all went wrong. It’s going to be clinical, it’s going to be loud, and for the visitors, it’s going to be MERCIFULLY over soon.

AEK Athens 3-0 NK Celje