AEK were level in Slovenia, crushed Celje 4-0 with chances for … 10 goals, turned the rematch into a formality and are already thinking about the quarterfinals of the Europa Conference League.

On Oct. 2, in the League Phase premiere, the two teams met again, with the Union opening the scoring early but ultimately losing, 3-1. A long time has passed since then, Marko Nikolic’s team is much better than it was then and the Slovenians have understood that very well.

As then, so now, the Yellow and Black opened the scoring very early, namely in the 3rd minute, when Marin took a corner and Varga headed the ball into the net for a 0-1 lead. The difference compared to the October game was that the Double Eagle didn’t stop there, at the quick goal, but continued to attack with the aim of scoring more. And it did.

AEK had a chance on 10 minutes with Gacinovic’s diagonal shot that went wide, had a cross on 11 minutes with Varga, who evaded his opponent but couldn’t find the target with a powerful shot, and generally had complete control of the game. The Union did everything right, didn’t allow the home side to threaten them and after 30 minutes… they let loose.

On 31 minutes Varga did everything right, dodging his opponent with a great dribble, but he failed in the one-on-one, on 33 minutes Jovic passed to Koita who dribbled and passed as he should have for 0-2 and on 36 minutes Gacinovic, with the help of luck, went for a kick but the ball took a strange trajectory and ended up in the net for 0-3!

Soon after, on 38 minutes, the Yellow and Blacks came close to scoring their fourth goal through Jovic who found himself in a shooting position but his shot deflected and on 45 minutes the Serbian forward had another, this time a great chance as he came across Leban but failed to beat him.

It didn’t become 0-4 there, it did at the start of the second half though, as Marin was fouled on 49 minutes, the ball went into the crossbar and on the restart Mukundi put the ball into the net with a touch. And from then on, as was to be expected, AEK simply managed their lead.

The Yellow and Black were in complete control, Nikolic slowly began to make his changes and the 0-4 score remained until the end, with the rematch now a mere formality.

Celje (Ivan Mayfski): Leban, Nieto, Beiger, Toytiskinas (46′ Castro), Karnićnik, Hrka (46′ Daniel), Kveszic (75′ Kotnik), Ceslar (85′ Vidovic), Iosifov, Vansas (57′ Avdili), Kucic.

AEK (Marko Nikolic):Strakosa, Rota, Mukudi, Relvas, Pelion, Gacinovic (78′ Mandalos), Pineda (73′ Pereira), Marin, Koita (73′ Kutesa), Jovic (78′ Zini), Varga (86′ Kaloskamis).