AEK Athens prepares for Conference League quarter-final against Rayo Vallecano

AEK Athens has shifted its focus to the first leg of the UEFA Conference League quarter-final against Rayo Vallecano, scheduled for Thursday in Spain at 19:45. Following a victory over Olympiacos, coach Marko Nikolic is managing squad fatigue and player readiness. The team faces roster constraints due to the official UEFA registration list, which excludes Joao Mario, Ljubicic, and Sahab. Additionally, six players are one yellow card away from suspension: Lazaros Rota, Luka Jovic, Orbelin Pineda, Razvan Marin, Petros Mantalos, and Domagoj Vida. The squad is scheduled to depart for Madrid following training sessions this week. AEK currently leads the domestic playoffs by five points, but their focus remains entirely on the European challenge. The club confirmed there are no major injury concerns ahead of the match.