AEK stumbles again in league, but Cup draw is kind to it

AEK stumbled once again in a home game in the Super League on Monday, but was handed a relatively easy task in the Round of 16 of the Greek Cup as it bids to defend the title it landed last spring. Tuesday’s draw was also kind to the other three members of Greek soccer’s Big Four.

Facing PAS Giannina in Athens on Monday evening, AEK took an early blow due to the Christos Aravidis red card, but opened the score on the 68th minute via Tomas Pekhart.

However PAS managed to equalize deep into injury time with a Christopher Maboulou goal that appeared offside on TV, forcing AEK’s fourth home draw so far in the league. AEK is now fifth, 11 points from the top, while PAS lies sixth, a further two points adrift.

In the Cup draw on Tuesday, holder AEK was paired with Levadiakos, while PAS Giannina will clash with Platanias in the home-and-away fixtures of the tournament’s second round proper.

Champion Olympiakos has drawn Aris, the Thessaloniki giant that has found itself in the second divisio, while Panathinaikos will face second-tier first-timer Kissamikos of Hania. PAOK will face Panetolikos.

The other ties of the round to be played on January 10-12 and 24-26 are Xanthi vs OFI Crete, Trikala vs Asteras Tripolis and Lamia vs Atromitos.