AEK Athens VS Levski Sofia

AEK Athens, the champion of the Greek Super League, holds a clear edge in terms of player value. Their squad features players with top - five league experience, such as Jovic, Maier, and Marin. In the previous league game, they thrashed their opponents 4 - 0, with Jovic scoring a brace, indicating a return to good offensive form. However, the domestic league has not officially started, so they have played fewer official matches. Their home ground, the Olympic Stadium, has an electric atmosphere. They are eager to score goals and win the game outright, avoiding the extra - time that would cause additional fatigue. On the other hand, CSKA Sofia, the champion of the Bulgarian First League, has been successful in this season's Champions League qualifiers, remaining unbeaten in various competitions for a long time. They have gained plenty of experience in European competitions and have a well - developed defensive system. Nonetheless, they are facing significant injury problems. Several key rotation players, including Blas, Sangare, and Kirilov, are injured, weakening their squad depth. They mainly adopt a 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 defensive - counterattacking formation, with their double - defensive midfielders having strong interception abilities. When playing away, they prioritize defense. A 0 - 0 draw would be enough to take the game into extra - time. Set - pieces and quick counter - attacks are their main goal - scoring means.