Last Saturday, Club Brugge opened its practice campaign with a draw against R. Knokke FC. Due to the long season with also a European Championship and Copa América in full swing, the core consisted mainly of youth players. On Saturday, July 6, against AEK Athens, a more complete core will already be present to match the Greek vice-champion. Thus, Vanaken, Mechele and Mignolet will in all likelihood make their reappearance.
The opponent
Saturday afternoon, July 6, in between all the European Championship violence, Club will play its second preparation match against Greek side AEK Athens. Den match will take place at Basecamp behind closed doors.
AEK Athens celebrated its 100thanniversary in April. The club could already celebrate 13 national titles and 16 cups. In 2021, AEK Athens was already a guest at the Basecamp. Then Club won the friendly game 2-1. Charles De Ketelaere and Daniel Pérez scored the Bruges goals then. In 2007 Club lost a friendly in Athens 2-0.
Once we met in an official context. In 2017, the Greeks eliminated Club in the final preliminary round of the UEFA Europa League. Club did not get beyond a scoreless draw at home and lost in Athens by a big 3-0 score.
AEK Athens became vice champions in the Greek Super League last season. It finished 2 points off champion PAOK FC, the club that FCB could still eliminate in the quarterfinals of the Conference League. Conference League winner Olympiacos only finished third at 4 points from AEK.
Some players to consider with the Greeks:
- Steven Zuber, Domagoj Vida, Damian Szymanskien and Mijat Gacinovic were all active at the European Championship. With Orbelín Pineda and Alexander Callens, 2 of their players were also in action at the Copa América.
- Lazaros Rota, Theocharis Tsingaras and Konstantinos Galanopoulos are the club's Greek internationals.
- Ezequiel Ponce became top marksman last season at AEK. He scored 16 goals across all competitions, but recently left the club for American Houston Dynamo FC. Trinidadian Levi García, the club's most expensive player according to Transfermarkt, hit 14 goals.
AEK already played 2 friendly duels in its preparation for the new season. They lost 6-0 at the AZ Alkmaar training complex. In Zeeland, the club practiced against Belgian promoter K. Beerschot VA. In 2 times 60 minutes the Greeks won 3-0. Konstantinos Galanopoulos, Zini and Alexis Golfinos provided the goals.
Referee
Wim Smet was designated ref for this game. He will be assisted by Michael Geerolf and Jordy Vermeire. The 41-year-old official has been active at the highest level in Belgium for 14 years and has already refereed 21 Club Brugge official matches. It will be the 4th time that the Antwerp ref leads a Blauw-Zwart practice match.