European competitive football resumes this week, with day five of both the Champions League and the Europa League group stages and all three Greek teams face very difficult challenges in their road to reach the Europa League round of 32.

Champions AEK have already said goodbye to the top two positions of their Group in the Champions League, as they have zero points after four games.

The most they can hope for is to claim third place, which will allow them to continue their European journey in the Europa League.

That will be their target as they prepare to welcome Dutch champions Ajax, who are currently in second place of the group with eight points.

Club manager Marinos Ouzounidis stated – during the press conference before the game – that after the team’s poor performance against Panetolikos on the weekend, three key players will not be included in the squad.

It was later made known that those players were Simoes, Bakasetas and Labropoulos, a matter that makes life that much more difficult for the Greek coach.

In the Europa League, Olympiacos will travel to Seville where they will face leaders of Group F Real Betis.

Spirits are high in the Piraeus camp, after Sunday’s victory at Atromitos and it came with the added benefit that Pedro Martins was able to rest some of his key players for this important game.

The ‘red-and-whites’ will hope for the best in Seville, however this result will not determine their fate in the competition as they remain on equal points with AC Milan, who they will host at the Karaiskakis for the final match-up of the group.

Finally, PAOK will have the most difficult job of all, as they go to the Stamford Bridge to meet with Chelsea.

However, the English side have already sealed first place of Group L and will look to use this game in order to provide some of their most important men such as Eden Hazard with valuable time to rest, considering the Premier League obligations they have ahead of them.

The Thessaloniki team will hope to use this to their advantage as they are currently on the chase of second-placed Vidi who have six points, while PAOK only have three