Espanyol vs. Rayo Vallecano

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April 16, 2026, for the second leg of their UEFA Conference League quarter-final. AEK Athens, currently two points clear of Olympiacos in the Greek top flight, faces a daunting task after losing the first leg 3-0 in Spain.

Despite this deficit, AEK is averaging over two goals per game in their last six home matches and has kept three clean sheets in their last four home games. However, their top scorer, Luka Jovic, is suspended for this match due to accumulating three yellow cards.

Rayo Vallecano, who finished eighth in La Liga and are currently three points above the relegation zone, are seeking their first European semi-final appearance since 2000s. Rayo's defensive streak of conceding no more than one goal in 11 games was broken by a 3-0 defeat to Mallorca.

With Jovic out, AEK's Barnabas Varga, the second top scorer with six goals this season, is expected to take a prominent role. The match is viewed as a critical opportunity for AEK to reach their first European semi-final in 49 years, though Rayo's primary focus remains league survival

April 14, 2026, at 20:00 in the Europa...