يوفيتش وفارغا أطلقا آيك إلى الدور الثاني من دوري أبطال أوروبا

AEK Athens made a statement of intent in the Champions League playoff round, dismantling Bulgarian visitors Levski Sofia with a commanding 4-0 victory at home. The Greek side never allowed their opponents a foothold, establishing complete control from the opening minutes and delivering a performance that left little doubt about which team belonged in the next round.

Luka Jović opened the scoring after just seven minutes, giving AEK an early advantage that set the tone for what followed. Balázs Varga then doubled the lead five minutes later with his first of the evening, and the Hungarian striker struck again in the 29th minute to make it three before half-time. Levski arrived in Athens hoping to compete in this knockout tie but found themselves chasing shadows in the opening half, with AEK's movement and execution creating space at will.

The contest was effectively settled long before the interval, but AEK refused to ease off the accelerator after the break. Risto Marin converted a penalty in the 55th minute to add a fourth goal, the striker's composure from the spot reflecting his team's complete dominance. By that stage Levski had become spectators to their own elimination, unable to generate any meaningful attacking threat against an AEK side that operated with precision and purpose.

Throughout the match AEK controlled possession and the rhythm of play, dictating when and where the game unfolded. Levski offered resistance in patches but lacked the quality and cohesion needed to trouble the hosts defensively or create opportunities at the other end. The visitors' backline was consistently exposed, and their midfield struggled to compete for the ball or disrupt AEK's flowing passing moves.

Marin's yellow card in the 51st minute underlined AEK's intensity rather than any loss of discipline, the team maintaining their shape and structure even with a full hand in the match. Levski made no serious attempt to force a comeback, and AEK's management of the closing stages meant the final scoreline of 4-0 reflected their superiority completely.

This demolition takes AEK through to the second round of the Champions League, where they will face stronger opposition and test their credentials at a higher level. For Levski, the task of rebuilding begins immediately, with this playoff exit forcing a steep reassessment of their continental ambitions. AEK's quality, execution, and ruthlessness have announced them as genuine contenders in this season's competition.