Kick-off on 30.08.23 22:00.

In the first leg, the royal club secured a narrow victory at the Bosuilstadion, scoring in the sixteenth minute to make it 1-0. Early in the second half, the hosts were reduced to ten men, but the score remained unchanged. The Double-headed Eagles had a strong attacking game, with twenty-one shots and ninety-nine dangerous attacks, but they managed to hit the target only four times, all of which were expertly defended by Buta.

Watch the AEK vs. Antwerp match online. These opponents played friendlies in the summer of 2021 and 2023, with the Yellow and Blacks celebrating victories (2-0 and 3-0). The Greek champions started their journey in the tournament during the previous qualification stage, where they overcame Dinamo Zagreb (2-1, 2-2). On their away leg, the Athletic Union of Constantinople scored the decisive goal at the end of regular time. On their home turf, the double-headed eagles were trailing 0-2 and managed to equalize only in the one-hundredth minute.

Over the past fifteen years, AEK have only reached the final round of the Champions League qualification for the second time. In the 2018/19 season, the Yellow and Blacks eliminated Hungarian side MOL Fehérvár (1-1, 2-1). Prior to that, the Greek giant came close to the group stage in the 2007/08 campaign but was defeated by Sevilla (1-4, 0-2). A year earlier, the club overcame Scottish side Hearts (3-0, 2-1). Watch the AEK vs. Antwerp showdown online.

The Superstar clinched the Belgian gold for the first time since 1958. The Reds had not participated in the Champions League for sixty-five years after their debut in the tournament. Back then, the team from Flanders faced Real Madrid in the first round and exited the competition (1-2, 0-6). The royal club have qualified for the playoff stage of European competition three times in the last five years.

In the 2019/20 Europa League, AZ Alkmaar prevented the superstar from reaching the group stage (1-1, 1-4). Two years later, the team advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Omonia (2-0, 2-4, 3-2 on penalties). In the 2022/23 Champions League, the Belgian champions were eliminated in the final qualification round by Başakşehir (1-3, 1-1). Watch the AEK vs. Antwerp match online.