He reminded… AEK and easily “cleaned” OFI

Transformed in relation to its European “ghost”, the AEK prevailed easily as well as emphatically OFI with 3-0 in the licensed OPAP Arena for the first matchday of the Stoiximan Super League.

His team has obviously improved Matias Almeidadominated from the first minute, displayed the familiar elements of pressing and direct football and was little threatened by the opposition.

THE Levi Garcia at 11′, o Stavros Pelios at 14′ and o Steven Zuber in the 83′ they scored the goals for the “yellow and black” who made a reaction after the painful exclusion in the Conference League by Noa.

Few things from OFI, he was limited to a passive role and had only one good moment in the match.

In the minds of the coaches

Matias Almeida lined up AEK with four changes compared to the rematch against Noa. He placed Mukudi in the center of defense next to Vida instead of Cullens, while keeping Rota and Pelios at the back with Strakosa, of course in goal. Pineda was preferred alongside Simanski instead of Ljubicic, who took up a role behind the forward, with Amrabat and Koita replacing Eliasson and Gacinovic respectively, while Garcia returned to the top of the attack in place of Zuber.

Traianos Dellas lined up OFI with a rather aggressive philosophy. Christogeorgos was under the posts while the foursome of defense consisted of Bressan, Lambropoulos, Gondhaleth and Hatzitheodoridis. Karahalios and Gaiegos were the two defensive midfielders, with Bakic in a staff role and Riera, Nous and Iseka forming the attacking trio.

The match

AEK entered the match very hungry and grabbed OFI by the throat. With quick circulation and a very active Pineda, she looked determined from the start to get a reaction after the cazo from Noa. Levia’s shot that went just wide of the ‘window’ in the 5th minute was the warning shot, as six minutes after excellent cooperation and a wonderful cross from Amrabad at the second post, the ‘Union’ forward opened the scoring.

Just three minutes later, Szymanski found Pelios at the back of the defense, with the young full-back making an exemplary control and avoiding an opponent to make it 2-0, with his maiden goal with “Union” and also in the Super League.

The “yellow and black” did not slow down, but continued to dominate and produce phases, the main one being Pineda’s header that went just wide in the 26th minute. Armed with direct recoveries, direct football and substitutions, AEK was in complete control, while not allowing OFI to threaten for a single moment throughout the first 45 minutes.

The image of the match did not change at the start of the second half, however OFI was the one who threatened for the first time in the match in the 56th minute, with Riera making the turn and Apostolakis (who had just come on as a substitute) countering the projection of.

Almeida refreshed his team in the 66th minute by replacing Odubajo, Lamela and Zuber instead of Rota, Pineda and Garcia. The “Union” without having the creation of the first half seemed to be in complete control of the situation, with the game seeming to… fade away early.

The Argentinian coach wanted to liven up his team by throwing Mandalo and Pereira into the fray. The Greek midfielder had an immediate impact on the match, as from his own ball Pelios made the turn to Tzuber and the Swiss with a place in the movement wrote the 3-0. Some nice inspiration but to no avail from Lamela and Pereira added salt and pepper in the final minutes for AEK’s easy victory.

MVP: Orbelin Pineda reminded the MVP of AEK in the last two years. He was very mobile, flawless in his passing and a constant threat pressing into the area. Very good, perhaps we are even unfair to him, Stavros Pelios, who not only scored, not only had the assist in the 3-0, but he had many good moves and was very effective in blocking.

The… whistle: In a quiet game, Zambalas and VAR Koumbarakis are controlled for two phases. A clean steal by Ljubisic that led to a 4-a-4 but a foul was whistled and a shove inside the area on Pelios, which could have been awarded a penalty.

The compositions

AEK (4-2-3-1): Strakosa-Rota (66′ Odubajo), Vida, Mukudi, Pelios-Symanski, Pineda (66′ Lamela), Ljubisic (80′ Mandalos), Amrabad, Koita (80′ Pereira)-Garcia (66′ Zuber).

On the bench: Theocharis, Odubatzo, Mitoglou, Gatsinovich, Fernandes.

OFI (4-2-3-1): Christogeorgos-Bresan, Lambropoulos, Gondhaleth, Hatzitheodoridis (81′ Jung)-Karachalios (63′ Jimeneth), Gagegos (81′ Koutentakis)-Bakits, Riera (64′ Abada), Nous (55′ Apostolakis)-Iseka.

On the bench: Bauman, Theodosoulakis, Christopoulos, Marinakis.

Referee: Spyros Zambalas

Assistants: T. Kollias, K. Liontos

Fourth: K. Tsetsilas

VAR: St. Koumbarakis (K. Triantafillou)

The live of the match