AEK Athens claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over LASK Linz at the OPAAP Arena on Monday, securing their first points in the UEFA Champions League League Stage. The match finished 1-0 after Răzvan Marin's second-half strike proved decisive, with the hosts holding firm despite LASK's possession advantage. And here's the thing — it wasn't the kind of result you'd expect from the statistics alone.
Marin found the net in the 21st minute, capitalising on a well-worked move to give AEK the lead. The goal arrived before half-time, and it was enough to separate the sides through a tight contest. LASK pressed for an equaliser but could not find the breakthrough, their chances ending up on the post and wide.
The turning point came in the 65th minute when Luka Jovic's goal was cancelled out by VAR. AEK had built momentum, and that moment shifted the game on its head. To be fair, the offside call was tight, but it came at the worst possible time for the visitors who had just pulled level.
LASK made three substitutions in quick succession — Robert Ljubicic, Kasper Jorgensen and Christoph Lang — in a bid to change the complexion of the match. AEK responded with a late change of their own, bringing on Luka Jovic in the 82nd minute. By then, the result was beyond doubt, though the hosts still had work to do.
The statistics told a different story. LASK edged possession at 51 per cent to 49, with 231 passes into the opposition half compared to AEK's 224. But AEK created more clear-cut opportunities — four big chances against three — and converted one. Their expected goals total of 1.59 versus LASK's 0.81 reflected the quality of their chances.
Both sides enter the League Stage with zero points and zero games played, so this result sets an early tone. AEK's recent form has been strong, with five consecutive matches without defeat, including victories over Levski Sofia and Iraklis 1908. LASK have also been productive in warm-up fixtures, notably a 6-1 win over Deutschlandsberg.
What matters now is how this result fits into the wider picture. AEK have the deeper squad and home advantage, while LASK will need to tighten their defensive structure. The gap between them is narrow — one point and one match — and the League Stage promises more such moments.