On July 31, AEK in an outstanding performance, defeated Trabzonspor 3-1 in a friendly match in Trabzon, Turkey is was reported in Ethnos.
They exhibited promise ahead of the first official matches in the Champions League qualifiers, against Dynamo Zagreb.
Under the guidance of coach Matthias Almeyda, the team demonstrated the same successful path that led them to win the domestic double last season.
AEK took the lead in the 31st minute with a goal from Livai Garcia, and in the 41st minute, Eliasen scored with a powerful shot to make it 2-0. Trabzonspor managed to pull one back and reduce the deficit to 2-1 with a goal from Maxi Gomez, assisted by Bakasetas. However, AEK secured a 3-1 victory in the 75th minute when Dutch player van der Vaart scored after an excellent collaboration between Mantalos, Gacinovic, Sidiropoulos, and van der Vaart himself.
The only downside for AEK was the muscular injury suffered by Vidal, who had to leave the field in the 9th minute. The club is concerned about the extent of the problem before the Champions League qualifiers.
Apart from Bakasetas, another player who appeared in the starting lineup for Trabzonspor was Kurbelis.
Trabzonspor (Coach Bielitsa): Ugurcan, Denswil, Benkovic (74′ Yilmaz), Larsen, Eren (69′ Boslouk), Kurbelis (80′ Haspolat), Bakasetas, Abdulkadir (69′ Bardhi), Viska (80′ Teklic), Tresnjak, Gomes (80′ Destan).
AEK (Coach Almeyda): Stankovic (46′ Athanasiadis), Rota (46′ Sidiropoulos), Vidal (9′ Mitoglou), Mucoundi, Hatzisafi (73′ Mohamedi), Simanski (46′ Galanopoulos), Jansson (63′ Mantalos), Eliasen (46′ Gacinovic, 79′ Zinny), Pineda (46′ Amrabat), Chuber (63′ Pisaro), Garcia (73′ van der Vaart).
