Panagiotis Kattirtzis withdrawn from APOEL starting lineup against AEK due to injury

During the pre-match warm-up for the APOEL vs AEK game on May 3, 2026, APOEL midfielder Panagiotis Kattirtzis experienced physical discomfort. The team's coaching staff, led by Pablo Garcia, decided to remove him from the starting eleven to avoid risking his health. Peter Olayinka was selected to replace him in the starting lineup. Kattirtzis had recently returned to action after a prolonged absence, having participated in the previous four matches against Omonia, Pafos FC, and Apollon. The official announcement from the club confirmed the change as a forced substitution due to medical precaution. The decision was finalized shortly before the scheduled kick-off.