Shakhtar vs AEK: introducing the opponents
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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Shakhtar will take on Greek champions AEK on the UEFA Champions League league phase MD2
October 14, London, Stamford Bridge, 22:00
Live: Megogo
History and path to the UCL
AEK was founded in Athens on April 13, 1924 by Greeks from Byzantium, as reflected in the club’s name (the abbreviation stands for Athletic Union of Constantinople). The club are one of the most decorated sides in Greek football. Throughout their history, the Athens side have won 33 trophies: 14 Greek league titles, 16 Greek Cups, 2 Greek Super Cups and 1 Greek League Cup. AEK made their international debut in the Balkans Cup in 1960, and their best European campaign came in the 1976/77 UEFA Cup, when they reached the semi-finals. The Athens side have also reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup (1968/69) and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup twice (1996/97 and 1997/98). They have featured in the UEFA Champions League group stage four times (1994/95, 2002/03, 2003/04 and 2006/07), but have never progressed to the knockout stage. In the 2025/26 season, AEK reached the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals and won the Greek championship, earning them a place in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.
2026/27 season
AEK began the new season with the Greek Super Cup, where they lost to Greek Cup holders OFI on penalties. Their league campaign got off to a start featuring a mix of wins and draws: Iraklis (4-0), Kifisia (1-1), Aris (5-0), Asteras (1-1), Volos (2-1). In their most recent match, played on October 10, AEK recorded a convincing home win over OFI (3-0). After six rounds, the Athens side have 14 points (goal difference: 16-3), and sit second in the Greek Super League table. The team have also played two Greek Cup matches, beating Chrysoupolis (2-0) and Panserraikos (8-1).
AEK began their UEFA Champions League campaign in the qualifying play-offs, overcoming Bulgarian side Levski (0-0, 4-0) to reach the competition proper for the first time in eight years. In the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase MD1 fixture, AEK hosted Austrian champions LASK. The only and decisive goal came in the 21st minute, when AEK midfielder Răzvan Marin scored with a spectacular free-kick.
Team leaders
AEK are managed by 47-year-old Serbian coach Marko Nikolić, who is in his second season in charge of the team. AEK captain is 35-year-old midfielder and club legend Petros Mantalos, who has been with the team since 2014. Albanian Thomas Strakosha was the first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the season, but after six matches he picked up an injury, with experienced Italian Alberto Brignoli deputising for him in the latest games. The leading defenders are Harold Moukoudi, Filipe Relvas, Lazaros Rota and Stavros Pilios. The team’s midfield leaders are 27-year-old Croatian Lovro Majer, Romanian Răzvan Marin, while Serbian Mijat Gaćinović and Finn Kaan Kairinen also play important roles. The main attacking star is 28-year-old Serbia international Luka Jović. He has experience playing for Eintracht Frankfurt, Benfica, Real Madrid, Fiorentina and Milan. Last season, Jović was AEK’s top scorer, netting 21 goals in 43 matches. In the new campaign, he already has 6 goals in 10 games. Even more prolific at the start of the season has been 31-year-old Hungarian forward Barnabás Varga, who has netted 8 goals. Third on the team’s scoring list is Angolan forward Zini (4 goals).
Special attention should be paid to summer signing Oleksandr Zubkov. The Ukrainian winger joined the Athens club after a successful season with Turkish side Trabzonspor and has already scored his first goal and provided an assist for his new team in the Greek Cup match against Panserraikos. Zubkov is a familiar face to Shakhtar, having come through the club’s academy and played for the Pitmen’s first team from 2015 to 2019 and again from 2022 to 2025. He made 107 appearances for the club, winning nine trophies with them.
Head-to-head record
Shakhtar and AEK will meet for the first time in a competitive match. The Miners have previously played 5 European matches against Greek sides and have never lost: 1 win and 4 draws (goal difference: 4-3). AEK have played four matches against Ukrainian teams: 1 win, 2 draws and 1 defeat (goal difference: 5-5).
The Shakhtar v AEK match will be officiated by an English refereeing team: referee – Chris Kavanagh, assistant referees – Dan Cook and Ian Hussin. VAR – Stuart Attwell and Andrew Dallas.
Live: Megogo
History and path to the UCL
AEK was founded in Athens on April 13, 1924 by Greeks from Byzantium, as reflected in the club’s name (the abbreviation stands for Athletic Union of Constantinople). The club are one of the most decorated sides in Greek football. Throughout their history, the Athens side have won 33 trophies: 14 Greek league titles, 16 Greek Cups, 2 Greek Super Cups and 1 Greek League Cup. AEK made their international debut in the Balkans Cup in 1960, and their best European campaign came in the 1976/77 UEFA Cup, when they reached the semi-finals. The Athens side have also reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup (1968/69) and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup twice (1996/97 and 1997/98). They have featured in the UEFA Champions League group stage four times (1994/95, 2002/03, 2003/04 and 2006/07), but have never progressed to the knockout stage. In the 2025/26 season, AEK reached the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals and won the Greek championship, earning them a place in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.
2026/27 season
AEK began the new season with the Greek Super Cup, where they lost to Greek Cup holders OFI on penalties. Their league campaign got off to a start featuring a mix of wins and draws: Iraklis (4-0), Kifisia (1-1), Aris (5-0), Asteras (1-1), Volos (2-1). In their most recent match, played on October 10, AEK recorded a convincing home win over OFI (3-0). After six rounds, the Athens side have 14 points (goal difference: 16-3), and sit second in the Greek Super League table. The team have also played two Greek Cup matches, beating Chrysoupolis (2-0) and Panserraikos (8-1).
AEK began their UEFA Champions League campaign in the qualifying play-offs, overcoming Bulgarian side Levski (0-0, 4-0) to reach the competition proper for the first time in eight years. In the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase MD1 fixture, AEK hosted Austrian champions LASK. The only and decisive goal came in the 21st minute, when AEK midfielder Răzvan Marin scored with a spectacular free-kick.
Team leaders
AEK are managed by 47-year-old Serbian coach Marko Nikolić, who is in his second season in charge of the team. AEK captain is 35-year-old midfielder and club legend Petros Mantalos, who has been with the team since 2014. Albanian Thomas Strakosha was the first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the season, but after six matches he picked up an injury, with experienced Italian Alberto Brignoli deputising for him in the latest games. The leading defenders are Harold Moukoudi, Filipe Relvas, Lazaros Rota and Stavros Pilios. The team’s midfield leaders are 27-year-old Croatian Lovro Majer, Romanian Răzvan Marin, while Serbian Mijat Gaćinović and Finn Kaan Kairinen also play important roles. The main attacking star is 28-year-old Serbia international Luka Jović. He has experience playing for Eintracht Frankfurt, Benfica, Real Madrid, Fiorentina and Milan. Last season, Jović was AEK’s top scorer, netting 21 goals in 43 matches. In the new campaign, he already has 6 goals in 10 games. Even more prolific at the start of the season has been 31-year-old Hungarian forward Barnabás Varga, who has netted 8 goals. Third on the team’s scoring list is Angolan forward Zini (4 goals).
Special attention should be paid to summer signing Oleksandr Zubkov. The Ukrainian winger joined the Athens club after a successful season with Turkish side Trabzonspor and has already scored his first goal and provided an assist for his new team in the Greek Cup match against Panserraikos. Zubkov is a familiar face to Shakhtar, having come through the club’s academy and played for the Pitmen’s first team from 2015 to 2019 and again from 2022 to 2025. He made 107 appearances for the club, winning nine trophies with them.
Head-to-head record
Shakhtar and AEK will meet for the first time in a competitive match. The Miners have previously played 5 European matches against Greek sides and have never lost: 1 win and 4 draws (goal difference: 4-3). AEK have played four matches against Ukrainian teams: 1 win, 2 draws and 1 defeat (goal difference: 5-5).
The Shakhtar v AEK match will be officiated by an English refereeing team: referee – Chris Kavanagh, assistant referees – Dan Cook and Ian Hussin. VAR – Stuart Attwell and Andrew Dallas.