Surprise package AEK Larnaca will be aiming to capitalise on Steaua Bucuresti’s poor recent run of form tomorrow night, as they go in search of their first win of the Europa League Group Stage.
AEK have been a breath of fresh air this season, putting on a string of impressive performances that has seen them become the first Cypriot team to gain a Europa League group berth.
The Larnaca side, buoyed by their domestic 2-1 victory against Ethnikos Achnas at the weekend, a result that leaves them third in the table, will be looking to build on their impressive achievements so far this season by beating Steaua in Nicosia tonight.
Steaua have won only once in their last five matches, with this victory coming against lower league opposition in the domestic cup and currently lie in eighth position in the league. The Bucharest side has not done well on the road in Europe recently, currently on an eight-game winless run away from home.
While AEK know that this is certainly not a bad time to host Romania’s most successful side, Dutch coach Ton Caanen, who, together with AEK Sporting Director Jordi Cruyff has masterminded the side’s impressive European campaign, insisted that his side would not have it easy.
“Our team is improving game by game and is on a good track, we go into the game against Steaua with confidence running high. Steaua are the favourites for the match. I have watched all their games and I have been impressed by (Leandro) Tatu and (Pablo) Brandan, two very good players,” he said.
Caanen has to contend with a host of selection problems ahead of the game, with a number of first choice defenders unavailable. Captain Kevin Hofland and Spaniard Albert Serran are both long-term injury absentees, joined on the sidelines by the suspended Ander Murillo who saw red in AEK’s previous Europa League outing. Caanen is expected to use his compatriot Edwin Linssen as an emergency defender, as he is running short of options at the back
AEK suffered defeat last time out in the Europa League, succumbing 1-0 to Maccabi Haifa. In tomorrow night’s other game in Group J, last year’s competition semi-finalists Schalke host Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa.
