AEK face Shakhtar Donetsk at Stamford Bridge with about 10,000 fans expected
AEK visit Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, 14 October, for their second Champions League League Phase match against Shakhtar Donetsk. Kickoff is at 22:00 Greek time, and about 10,000 AEK supporters are expected in London.
Kickoff and setting
AEK meet Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, 14 October, at 22:00 Greek time (20:00 in London), at Stamford Bridge. Shakhtar are playing their European home matches away from Ukraine because of the war, and they have named the Chelsea ground as their temporary home for this European campaign. It is the second round of the League Phase for both clubs. AEK opened with a win over LASK, which NEWS 24/7 gives as 2-0 while Nautemporiki and NewsIT give 1-0. AEK will be the fourth Greek club to play at the ground after Aris, Olympiacos and PAOK. Aris's 1970-71 Cup Winners' Cup first-round tie ended with a 5-1 Chelsea win in London after a 1-1 first leg. The match will be shown live on Magenta Sport 2 and MEGA.
Fans and tickets
About 10,000 AEK supporters are expected in the stands. PAE AEK had secured 6,500 tickets for its fans, and those were gone in under ten hours. Several thousand more supporters found tickets through Chelsea, which pushed the numbers well above the original allocation. Hundreds of fans were already gathering at points around the stadium from the morning hours, wearing yellow-and-black shirts and scarves. Shakhtar's allocation of 6,000 tickets has also sold out.
Team news and form
Thomas Strakosha is unavailable and did not travel, so Brignoli is expected in goal, with Relvas and Mukoundi likely to hold the centre-back pairing. Rota and Pilios are expected at full-back, and Marin is pencilled in for midfield, with his partner still undecided between Kairinen and Vitalis. Luka Jović is expected to lead the attack, while Varga has travelled but his fitness after an injury is still unclear. Behind the striker, Meyer is the favourite for the right flank and Koita for the left, and Gatsinovitch could also start. AEK have not lost in the Super League or the Champions League this season. They beat OFI 3-0 in the league and sit one point behind league leaders Panathinaikos. Arda Turan's Shakhtar are without Ghram and the reserve goalkeeper Fesiun, while the rest of the squad is available. Shakhtar drew 1-1 in Eindhoven in their opening match.
Travel and stadium rules
AEK's organisers listed four London pubs as optional meeting points between 11:00 and 17:00 on Wednesday, 14 October: the Brondes Age in Kilburn, the Earls Court Tavern, the Prince of Teck and the Courtfield Tavern. Fans may also travel to Stamford Bridge independently. Security checks will be strict, and bags larger than A4 paper size will not be allowed in. Ticket buyers who have not received their online ticket by email were asked to contact tickets@aekfc.gr as soon as possible.
What comes next
AEK will stay in England for a week because a trip to Manchester City follows in the third matchday. The club requested, and was granted, a postponement of its league game against Atromitos. Four players who are not eligible to play in the competition travelled with the squad: Kaloskamis, Alexiou, Koutesas and Georgiev. Chris Kavanagh, an English referee, will officiate the match at Stamford Bridge.