The match between Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens, scheduled for this evening, sees the Greek team present three former Serie A players. Goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli, who played for Ternana, Empoli and Palermo, will be the last on the pitch for AEK. Added to the midfield are Razvan Marin, formerly of Cagliari and Empoli, and Luka Jovic, who played for Milan and Fiorentina, completing the Greek squad with a Brazilian "colony" that dominates the top half of the Ukrainian pitch.
Shakhtar's official formation, under the direction of coach Arda Turan, is 4-1-4-1. Goalkeeper Riznyk goes top, followed by Vinicius Tobias, Bondar, Matviyenko and Pedro Henrique in defense. In midfield, Ocheretko, Alisson Santana, Pedrinho, Marlon Gomes and Newton make up the midfield, while the attack is entrusted to Kaua Elias. The coach of the Ukrainian club has focused on a solid defensive department and a quick attack, with the aim of exploiting the speed of his attackers.
For AEK Athens, coach Nikolić opted for a 4-4-2. Brignoli is the goalkeeper, while the defense is made up of Rota, Moukoudi, Felipe Relvas and Pilios. In midfield, Majer, Marin, Vitalis and Koita try to control ball possession and create chances. The attack is entrusted to Jovic and Zini, with Jovic bringing his international experience to the final stage of the match. The choice to include three former Serie A players was welcomed with interest by the fans, who see a potentially decisive contribution in these players.
The context of the match is important: Shakhtar Donetsk, champions of their league, are looking for a victory that will consolidate their position in the table, while AEK Athens, despite not having the same tradition of European success, aims to demonstrate their competitiveness against a high-level opponent. The inclusion of Brignoli, Marin and Jovic was interpreted as an attempt to strengthen the team with international experience and notable technical skills.
At the end of the presentation of the lineups, the media noted that Venezia is considering the possibility of bringing Brignoli back to Serie A, highlighting the interest in the Greek goalkeeper. However, no official statements were provided from the club or the player. With the match scheduled for this evening, fans are preparing to see if AEK can exploit the presence of these former Serie A players to achieve a positive result against the mighty Shakhtar Donetsk.