AEK draws with Levski Sofia in Champions League playoff first leg

AEK drew 0-0 with Levski Sofia in the first leg of their Champions League playoff, leaving everything to be decided in the second leg in Athens on August 26.

The Greek team had opportunities to secure an away victory in Bulgaria. However, a shot hitting the post in the 20th minute and subsequent poor decision-making in front of goal by AEK players meant they could not capitalize on their chances. Despite not being at their peak physical readiness compared to Levski, AEK controlled the tempo for much of the match and created more clear-cut opportunities.

Levski's coach, Marko Nikolić, expressed disappointment with the result, not the effort. He acknowledged that AEK had the chances but admitted that the final decisions made by his players were often flawed or selfish. Nikolić had focused his team on a patient, tactical approach, seeking a single decisive moment, but the execution was lacking.

AEK will now look to leverage their home advantage in the return leg. The team's midfield and attacking lines struggled to connect effectively, with several key players underperforming. While substitutions improved the team's overall image, it wasn't enough to secure a win. AEK will need to increase their intensity, improve passing accuracy, and take greater control of possession in the upcoming match.

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the final decision was usually bad, or selfish.