AEK Athens host Rayo Vallecano in the second leg after suffering a heavy 0:3 defeat in Spain, making their chances of progression extremely slim.
Prediction: Correct Score 2-1
AEK’s home push for pride and Rayo’s controlled approach suggest a narrow home win without a full comeback.
AEK Athens face a massive challenge after losing 0:3 in the first leg. While a historic comeback is not entirely impossible, their recent European record suggests otherwise, with very few examples of overturning such deficits. Still, playing at home, AEK are expected to show a strong reaction and at least attempt to restore some pride in front of their fans.
Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, have been one of the surprises of the competition and are close to reaching a historic semifinal. With a comfortable aggregate lead, the Spanish side are likely to adopt a controlled and pragmatic approach, focusing on maintaining defensive structure and exploiting counter-attacking opportunities when possible.
Given the situation, AEK should push forward and may find a way to score, but Rayo’s discipline and quality should prevent any dramatic turnaround, while still allowing them to threaten offensively.
