Match report

Brighton Secures Narrow Victory Over AEK Athens FC In Europa League

AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens FC
0–1
FT
Brighton
Brighton
Nov 30, 2023

Brighton secured a narrow but important victory over AEK Athens FC with a 1-0 win in the UEFA Europa League match at the Karaiskakis Stadium. João Pedro's penalty in the second half was enough to secure three points for Brighton, despite facing an increasingly desperate and ten-man AEK side.

Key Facts

  • • João Pedro scored the winning goal from a penalty at 55 minutes.
  • • M. Gaćinović was sent off for AEK Athens FC with a red card at 65 minutes.
  • • Brighton received their first yellow card to Joël Veltman in the early stages of the match at 12 minutes.
  • • AEK Athens FC made four substitutions throughout the game, including O. Pineda replacing R. Pizarro.

Lineups

AEK Athens FC

Formation: 4-1-4-1

Starting XI

  • 1 C. Stanković (G)
  • 12 L. Rota (D)
  • 21 D. Vida (D)
  • 2 H. Moukoudi (D)
  • 28 E. Hajisafi (D)
  • 4 D. Szymański (M)
  • 5 N. Amrabat (M)
  • 20 P. Mantalos (M)
  • 13 O. Pineda (M)
  • 8 M. Gaćinović (M)
  • 10 S. Zuber (F)

Substitutes

  • 19 N. Eliasson
  • 14 E. Ponce
  • 11 S. Araújo
  • 70 R. Pizarro
  • 24 G. Mitoglou
  • 3 M. Mohammadi
  • 29 D. Sidibé
  • 39 P. Ginis
  • 30 G. Athanasiadis

Brighton

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 1 B. Verbruggen (G)
  • 34 J. Veltman (D)
  • 5 L. Dunk (D)
  • 3 Igor Julio (D)
  • 41 J. Hinshelwood (D)
  • 13 P. Groß (M)
  • 11 B. Gilmour (M)
  • 24 S. Adingra (M)
  • 28 E. Ferguson (M)
  • 22 K. Mitoma (M)
  • 9 João Pedro (F)

Substitutes

  • 8 Mahmoud Dahoud
  • 6 J. Milner
  • 56 J. Duffus
  • 20 C. Baleba
  • 52 L. Kavanagh
  • 48 S. Chouchane
  • 38 T. McGill
  • 45 J. Hinchy
  • 50 B. Jackson
  • 23 J. Steele
  • 40 F. Buonanotte

Timeline

  1. Brighton
    12' Brighton Card · Yellow Card
    Joël Veltman

    Foul

  2. AEK Athens FC
    27' AEK Athens FC Card · Yellow Card
    M. Gaćinović

    Foul

  3. Brighton
    54' Brighton Var · Penalty confirmed
    João Pedro
  4. Brighton
    55' Brighton Goal · Penalty
    João Pedro
  5. AEK Athens FC
    63' AEK Athens FC Card · Yellow Card
    S. Zuber

    Foul

  6. AEK Athens FC
    65' AEK Athens FC Card · Yellow Card
    M. Gaćinović

    Foul

  7. AEK Athens FC
    65' AEK Athens FC Card · Red Card
    M. Gaćinović

    Foul

  8. Brighton
    69' Brighton subst · Substitution 1
    Off: K. Mitoma · On: M. Dahoud
  9. AEK Athens FC
    72' AEK Athens FC subst · Substitution 1
    Off: N. Amrabat · On: N. Eliasson
  10. AEK Athens FC
    72' AEK Athens FC subst · Substitution 2
    Off: S. Zuber · On: E. Ponce
  11. AEK Athens FC
    72' AEK Athens FC subst · Substitution 3
    Off: P. Mantalos · On: S. Araújo
  12. Brighton
    77' Brighton subst · Substitution 2
    Off: João Pedro · On: J. Milner
  13. AEK Athens FC
    82' AEK Athens FC subst · Substitution 4
    Off: O. Pineda · On: R. Pizarro
  14. Brighton
    87' Brighton subst · Substitution 3
    Off: E. Ferguson · On: J. Duffus
  15. Brighton
    88' Brighton subst · Substitution 4
    Off: B. Gilmour · On: C. Baleba

Match Stats

Stat AEK Athens FC Brighton
Fouls 12 13
Pass Accuracy 88% 84%
Offsides 4 1
Red Cards 1 0
Total Shots 19 9
Corners 4 4
Total Passes 497 412
Yellow Cards 3 1
Blocked Shots 5 4
Shots on Target 5 2
xG 1.58 1.26
Shots off Target 9 3
Possession 56% 44%
Accurate Passes 437 345
Shots Inside Box 14 8
Saves 1 5
Shots Outside Box 5 1

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ The turning point came when João Pedro converted a penalty awarded in favor of Brighton at 54 minutes.
  • ▸ AEK Athens FC's morale was severely dented after M. Gaćinović received his second yellow card and subsequent red card, leaving the team with ten men for most of the second half.