AEK Athens vs LASK: Champions League Clash of Leaders

Two teams flying at the top of their Champions League groups meet on 8 Sept 2026, 17:45, as AEK Athens host LASK in a clash that already feels like it will shape the tone of their campaigns.

Both arrive in ruthless form. Both are scoring freely. Something has to give.

AEK sharp, settled, and scoring for fun

Marko Nikolic has little reason to tinker. AEK Athens have torn through their last five games, winning four and drawing one, with a staggering 16 goals scored and just one conceded in that spell.

They thrashed Aris Thessaloniki 5-0 in their latest Super League outing and had already dismantled Iraklis 4-0 earlier in August. Three straight wins, clean sheets piling up, and an attack that looks like it can cut through almost anyone.

Thomas Strakosha is set to continue in goal, protected by a side that looks well-drilled and confident. The midfield is built around the technical craft and control of Razvan Marin, Lovro Majer, and Kaan Kairinen – a trio that can both dictate tempo and break lines.

Up front, Luka Jovic and Barnabas Varga are expected to lead the line. On current form, that is a menacing partnership. AEK report no injuries or suspensions, so Nikolic can name as strong a side as he likes. That stability is showing on the pitch.

LASK arrive battle-tested

LASK’s numbers are almost as eye-catching. Four wins from their last five, 15 goals scored, five conceded. The only blemish? A 3-0 defeat to Celtic in the first leg of their Champions League qualification tie.

The response to that setback said everything about their mentality. LASK roared back with a 5-1 victory in the second leg to overturn the deficit in style and book their place. They have since added a 3-0 win over Altach and a 1-3 away success at Wolfsberger AC in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Dietmar Kuehbauer is set to trust the players who have carried that momentum. Lukas Jungwirth is expected to start in goal, with Melayro Bogarde and Sascha Horvath driving the midfield. Moses Usor leads the attack, a constant outlet and threat in behind.

Like AEK, LASK report no injuries or suspensions at this stage. Kuehbauer has a full squad to choose from and a team that has already shown it can ride out adversity and hit back hard.

First meeting, high stakes

There is no head-to-head history to lean on here. Records show this as the first meeting between AEK Athens and LASK at this level, which strips away any familiar narrative and leaves the night to write its own story.

What is clear is the context: both sides sit first in their Champions League table. That shared position at the summit turns this into more than just an early fixture. It is a marker. A chance to seize control of the group and put pressure on everyone else.

Two leaders, two free-scoring attacks, no injury excuses, and no historical baggage. Just a straight fight for authority in a group that may not stay this balanced for long.