After edging a 1-0 win over Swiss side St. Gallen last week, Greece side AEK Athens entertain Wolfsburg for an opportunity to earn a Europa League group stage berth this season. Their Bundesliga opponents crashed out of the competition in the last-16 last term and Oliver Glasner's men have unfinished business.
Whether they'll be able to complete that in 2020-21 depends on a 90-minute challenge in Athens on Thursday, against an AEK side on a three-match winning streak. Wolfsburg are unbeaten (five games, all competitions) since losing to Shakthar Donetsk in early August and will fancy their chances.
Ultimately though, who will book their place in Friday's group stage draw? Read my match preview, for the correct score predictions and best betting tips ahead of this fixture.
AEK Athens vs Wolfsburg Prediction
AEK Athens
2 : 1
Wolfsburg
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AEK Athens vs Wolfsburg Betting Tips
After a 2-0 home win against Ukrainian side Desna Chernihiv last Thursday, Wolfsburg were held to a 1-1 draw away at Freiburg. Paulo Otavio and Joao Victor both limped off injured in the second half, providing Glasner with an unwelcome conundrum.
Brazilian winger Victor started and played the full 90 minutes on Thursday, so Felix Klaus and Yunus Malli are among those who could potentially replace him. Otavio also featured, albeit from the substitutes' bench, so it'll be interesting to see how the team is rotated accordingly here.
As for AEK, they didn't have such a European hangover and were 3-0 winners against PAS Lamia on Sunday. Nenad Krsticic, Levi Garcia and substitute Bright Enobakhare all scored. However, the hosts' head coach Massimo Carrera has decisions to make after that performance.
Krsticic impressed in central midfield, despite being deployed in a more defensive role at fullback against St. Gallen. Garcia was a second-half substitute while Enobakhare remained unused. However, their recent victory has presented problems that fierce competition for places usually causes. How will they fare against better opposition here?
AEK Athens vs Wolfsburg Correct Score Predictions
Anything can happen in 90 minutes but Wolfsburg are favourites.
AEK couldn't have drawn many more difficult sides than the Bundesliga outfit, but a few shocks have already taken place in this season's UEL qualifying rounds. It's a difficult ask, so I'm backing Wolfsburg.
Main prediction AEK Athens - Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg to win
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Last matches of AEK Athens
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AEK Athens
1 : 0
Aris
Super League
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AEK Athens
0 : 1
Brighton & Hove Albion
Europa League
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PAS Giannina
0 : 1
AEK Athens
Super League
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AEK Athens
3 : 0
Lamia
Super League
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AEK Athens
0 : 2
Marseille
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Last matches of Wolfsburg
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Darmstadt 98
0 : 1
Wolfsburg
Bundesliga
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Wolfsburg
0 : 1
SC Freiburg
Bundesliga
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Borussia M`gladbach
1 : 0
Wolfsburg
DFB Pokal
-
Bochum
3 : 1
Wolfsburg
Bundesliga
-
Wolfsburg
2 : 1
RB Leipzig
Bundesliga
AEK Athens vs Wolfsburg Predicted Lineup
This is the predicted lineup, starting 11 and formations may change.
P. Tsintotas
S. Vasilantonopoulos
E. Svarnas
D. Chygrynskiy
E. Insúa
N. Krstičić
André Simões
Y. Shakhov
P. Mandalos
L. Garcia
Nélson Oliveira
P. Pervan
J. Roussillon
M. Lacroix
Paulo Otávio
J. Guilavogui
X. Schlager
M. Arnold
R. Steffen
A. Mehmedi
J. Brekalo
W. Weghorst