AEK Larnaca Confident Despite Home Loss Ahead of Conference League Return Leg in Romania

AEK Larnaca faces a crucial second leg against Beitar Jerusalem in the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round after losing the first match 1-0 last Thursday. The return match will be held in Romania with over 3,000 Beitar Jerusalem fans expected, but AEK's spokesperson Kyriakos Dimitriou downplayed the home crowd advantage, emphasizing the need to overturn the deficit through improved performance.

Dimitriou acknowledged that AEK did not perform as expected in the first 90 minutes, citing missed chances and a costly mistake that led to a red card and the conceded goal. He stressed that the team is gaining fitness and coordination as the competition progresses and expects a better showing in the upcoming match. The first game provided valuable insights for the coaching staff to prepare the team for the challenge ahead.

Regarding the neutral venue in Romania, Dimitriou said the home advantage for Beitar Jerusalem would be limited and expressed confidence in AEK's ability to reverse the situation, recalling previous comebacks. He also mentioned coordination with Romanian and Israeli authorities to ensure smooth security arrangements, noting AEK will bring around 200 supporters to the match.

On the squad front, AEK will welcome back Enrique Saborit, a former Maccabi Tel Aviv player, who missed the first leg due to a hamstring injury. The outcome of the second leg will determine which team advances to the next round of the Conference League qualifiers.