AEK Athens may be unfamiliar opponents for City, but there will be several recognisable faces in the Greek champions’ squad when they visit the Etihad on Tuesday night.
City have never previously faced AEK in competitive football, with Enzo Maresca’s side preparing for their third Champions League fixture of the season. Marko Nikolic’s visitors are back in the competition after winning the Greek title last season, and their squad contains plenty of experience from across Europe.
Here are five names City supporters may already know.
Luka Jovic
The headline name. The Serbia striker whose career has taken him to Real Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fiorentina and AC Milan. Jovic earned his move to Madrid after scoring 17 Bundesliga goals and another 10 in the Europa League for Frankfurt in 2018/19. He arrived in Athens in 2025 and scored 17 league goals during his first season with AEK.
Now 28, he has also been on target during this season’s Champions League campaign and remains one of the principal attacking threats available to Nikolic.
Lovro Majer
Croatia international Majer brings further pedigree to AEK’s midfield. The 28-year-old has previously represented Dinamo Zagreb, Rennes and Wolfsburg and was part of the Croatia squad that finished third at the 2022 World Cup.
Majer is capable of playing centrally or further forward and has already featured regularly during AEK’s European campaign this season.
Razvan Marin
Marin is another player with extensive experience across Europe. The Romania international has played for Standard Liege, Ajax, Cagliari and Empoli and now operates at the heart of the AEK midfield.
Marin has scored twice during their Champions League campaign, with his ability from distance and set-pieces adding another dimension to Nikolic’s side.
Barnabas Varga
Hungary striker Varga will be familiar to many supporters from Euro 2024, when he suffered a serious facial injury against Scotland before making a full recovery.
The 31-year-old subsequently continued his career with Ferencvaros before moving to AEK. Like Marin, he has scored twice during their Champions League campaign this season and offers Nikolic a different option through the middle.
With Jovic also available, AEK possess considerable experience in the centre-forward positions.
Joao Mario
Joao Mario has perhaps the most familiar CV of the five. The midfielder was part of Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning squad and has represented Sporting Lisbon, Inter Milan, West Ham and Benfica during a career spanning Portugal, Italy and England.
Now 33, he provides another experienced option for Nikolic, although his involvement in AEK’s European campaign has been more limited than several of the other names on this list.
AEK therefore arrive in Manchester as first-time opponents but hardly an anonymous side. Jovic provides the obvious headline name, while Majer, Marin, Varga and Joao Mario give the Greek champions a core of players accustomed to major European and international football.
For all the latest Man City news, Champions League coverage and updates, visit our Man City news page.
Comments.
Loading comments…