AEK Athens has kept its European ambitions alive, progressing to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League after a tense 0–0 draw against Hapoel Be’er Sheva on Friday morning (AEST). The Hellenic derby looms as AEK Athens to face Aris Limassol in UEFA clash after the result, combined with a 1–0 first-leg victory in Athens, ensured that the Greek side advanced 1–0 on aggregate—setting the stage for a mouthwatering clash against Cypriot champions Aris Limassol.
Playing their second-leg fixture in Debrecen, Hungary, AEK managed the game with defensive maturity, resisting a late push from the Israeli side. Despite failing to score on the night, Matías Almeyda’s men showed composure and tactical discipline, preserving their narrow advantage from the first leg thanks to a solitary goal from Mijat Gaćinović the previous week.
The result means AEK is now just one step away from the play-off round of the competition, where qualification guarantees a place in the lucrative group stage. But to get there, they must now overcome an ambitious and in-form Aris Limassol.
Aris, the reigning champions of Cyprus, booked their own place in the third qualifying round after a dramatic 3–2 win at home over Hungary’s Puskás Akadémia on July 24, completing a 5–2 victory on aggregate. Jaden Montnor opened the scoring before Giorgi Kvilitaia’s penalty doubled the advantage. Though Puskás mounted a late comeback with two goals from Lamin Colley, Edi Semedo sealed the result for Aris in stoppage time.
Aris’s dynamic attacking style has made them one of the rising clubs in Cypriot football. After lifting the domestic title last season for the first time in their history, they now seek to build their reputation in European competition. Facing AEK Athens offers not just a footballing challenge, but a symbolic match-up between two clubs representing the broader Hellenic world.
Elsewhere in the competition, Aris Thessaloniki crashed out following a disappointing 2–2 home draw against Araz Naxçıvan of Azerbaijan. Despite a spirited second-half fightback, the Greek club was eliminated 4–3 on aggregate, further highlighting the importance of AEK’s survival for Greek football’s European hopes.
Cypriot clubs had better fortune overall, with Omonia Nicosia securing a dominant 4–0 away win over Georgia’s Torpedo Kutaisi to progress 5–0 on aggregate. Stevan Jovetić and Willy Semedo both netted twice in a display of attacking firepower. Meanwhile, AEK Larnaca advanced to the next round of the UEFA Europa League after a narrow 2–1 win over Slovenia’s NK Celje, setting up a third-round clash with Polish giants Legia Warsaw.
The AEK vs Aris Limassol showdown is expected to take place across two legs in early August, with the first match likely to be hosted in Limassol. For both clubs, the upcoming tie represents a vital opportunity: for AEK, it’s a chance to restore continental credibility; for Aris, it’s an opportunity to make history.
With national pride and a European dream on the line, the Greece-Cyprus clash promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the qualifying phase.
