AEK Athens Wins First Friendly Against De Graafschap 2-1

AEK Athens began their pre-season training in the Netherlands with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Dutch side De Graafschap in their opening friendly match for the 2026/27 season.

AEK took a commanding 2-0 lead into halftime. László Varga opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a header from a free-kick delivered by Pako Mandalos. Shortly before the break, in first-half stoppage time, Viktor Zubkov capped off a swift counter-attack to extend AEK's advantage.

Both Zubkov and midfielder Kaan Kairinen made their unofficial debuts for AEK, showcasing glimpses of their potential. Zubkov, the Ukrainian winger, demonstrated attacking qualities that could bolster the team's offense, while Kairinen impressed with his passing accuracy. In the second half, coach Vladimir Nikolić made numerous substitutions to test different players and formations. Midfielder Sahabo stood out for his intensity, and Kaloskamis also showed promise, hitting the post in the 54th minute.

De Graafschap managed to pull a goal back in the 80th minute through Mambo, but AEK held on to secure their first win of the pre-season campaign. AEK's next friendly is scheduled for Wednesday against Vitesse.