According to the official match reports, Hungarian national team striker Barnabás Varga scored two goals for AEK Athens in the seventh minute of the second leg against Levski Sofia on Wednesday. Varga’s performance helped secure a 4–0 aggregate victory, advancing the Greek club to the 36-team group stage of the UEFA Champions League ahead of the official draw in Monaco.
AEK Athens Advances Behind Varga’s First-Half Goals
The second leg in Athens started quickly for the Greek side, according to match accounts. Serbian forward Luka Jović opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Varga followed with goals in the 12th and 29th minutes, both originating from left-wing corner kicks. He converted the first with his foot and the second with a header to put the tie out of reach before halftime.
Varga played until the 81st minute before being substituted. Fellow Hungarian player Milán Vitális was left off the match roster entirely because he had already featured for ETO FC during earlier rounds of the qualification series, according to tournament registration rules.
Did you know?
AEK Athens secured their place in the newly formatted 36-team UEFA Champions League league phase, joining clubs split across four pots for the upcoming tournament.
Champions League Group Stage Pots and Qualified Teams
The qualification matches concluded with several notable results across Europe. According to tournament organizers, the Norwegian side Viking Stavanger eliminated Dinamo Zagreb, Turkish club Fenerbahce won away against Olympique Lyon, and Slovak team Slovan Bratislava defeated Celje in extra time. Losing clubs from this playoff round move directly into the UEFA Europa League group stage.
The group stage draw takes place on Thursday at 18:00 CET in Monaco, setting up fixtures that run toward the final scheduled at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on June 5, 2027. The 36 clubs are divided into four pots based on UEFA coefficients:
- Pot 1: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid.
- Pot 2: Borussia Dortmund, AS Roma, Sporting CP, Aston Villa, FC Porto, Manchester United, Club Brugge, Real Betis, PSV Eindhoven.
- Pot 3: Feyenoord, Lille, Bodø/Glimt, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Fenerbahce, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray.
- Pot 4: Slavia Prague, Slovan Bratislava, VfB Stuttgart, AEK Athens, LASK, Como, Lens, Viking Stavanger, Sabah Baku.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Champions League draw?
Which teams joined AEK Athens from the final qualifying rounds?
Match reports confirm that Viking Stavanger, Fenerbahce, and Slovan Bratislava also advanced through the final playoff round.
Where will the 2027 Champions League final be played?
Tournament schedules state that the final will take place at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on June 5, 2027.
Join the Conversation
How do you think AEK Athens will fare in Pot 4 against Europe’s top clubs? Share your predictions in the comments below, or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on international football.
Related reading