AEK Athens held to 1-1 draw at Asteras AKTOR after Bartolo equalizer

First half exchanges in Tripoli

AEK Athens dropped points away from home for the second time this season after a 1-1 draw against Asteras AKTOR at the Theodoros Kolokotronis Stadium on matchday 4 of the Greek Super League. The visitors sought an early lead as Zini tested Asteras goalkeeper Chatziemmanouil in the third minute with a low drive from the right. In the eighth minute, AEK earned an indirect free kick inside the penalty box after Chatziemmanouil gathered a backpass from defender Franz Brorsson under pressure. The ensuing routine resulted in Marin firing over the crossbar from the penalty spot. Asteras responded swiftly in the eleventh minute when Julian Bartolo sent Ketu behind the defensive line, forcing Alberto Brignoli to make a diving save. Bartolo threatened again in the nineteenth minute by capitalizing on an error from Marin, but Portuguese defender Relvas recovered quickly to block the shot.

Opening goal and defensive error

AEK broke the deadlock in the 21st minute through an attacking move developed down the right wing. Lovro Majer advanced possession into the final third before releasing right-back Lazaros Rota, whose low cross into the six-yard box was deflected into the net by Asteras defender Laskaris for an own goal. Asteras maintained composure and found an equalizer ten minutes later following a defensive mistake by AEK centre-back Harold Moukoudi. Moukoudi failed to clear the ball in his own half, allowing Federico Macheda to steal possession and feed Bartolo. Bartolo converted with a composed finish past Brignoli in the 31st minute to level the score at 1-1. Before the break, Brignoli initiated a counter-attack through Gacinovic to Zini, but Ketu intervened to allow Chatziemmanouil to gather the ball.

Second half chances and late misses

AEK manager Marko Nikolic altered his attack in the second half by introducing Barnabas Varga and Aboubakary Koita from the bench to increase forward pressure. The tactical change appeared to yield results in the 60th minute when Varga turned the ball into the net following a deflected shot from Koita, but the assistant referee correctly ruled the goal out for offside. Asteras created dangerous counter-attacking chances, requiring Brignoli to dive across his goal to deny a fierce strike from Bartolo in the 64th minute. The Italian goalkeeper made another intervention in the 76th minute to stop a curling effort from Mendes on the left wing. In the 87th minute, Rota delivered another cross to Luka Jovic, whose close-range attempt was cleared off the goal line by Brorsson, before Jovic missed a second scoring opportunity seconds later.

Table standings and league context

The draw leaves AEK with 8 points from their first four fixtures of the Super League campaign, dropping the team into fourth place in the standings. The outcome follows an identical 1-1 away draw against Kifisia at the Leoforos Stadium, contrasting with the club's winning form at their home ground in Nea Filadelfeia. For Asteras AKTOR, the point earned on home turf represents their first point of the league season after opening the championship with consecutive defeats. Marko Nikolic's squad now prepares for subsequent domestic fixtures seeking to resolve offensive inefficiency and away form.