Greece finds renewed hope in the historic achievements of AEK and Panathinaikos on separate nights in Zagreb and Marseille. AEK's remarkable victory over Dinamo Zagreb and Panathinaikos' promising prospects ignite a resurgence of optimism for the nation.
The vibrant display of AEK's yellow and black, led by Matias Almeida, secured a triumphant 2-1 victory in Croatia's Maximir stadium, setting the stage for a decisive rematch at the OPAP Arena next Saturday. The prospect of qualifying for the Champions League playoffs adds an exhilarating dimension to the team's achievement.
Ever since the third qualifying round draw, the significance of matches like AEK's encounter with Dinamo Zagreb and PAOK's clash against Hajduk Split has been evident in shaping the informal rivalry between Greece and Croatia within the UEFA standings.
AEK's victory not only elevated them to 19th place, earning Greece 200 points and a total of 21925, but it also maintained Croatia in 20th position with 21525 points – a difference of 400 points favouring Greece. A noteworthy shift occurred as Poland inched closer, securing 21st place and trailing Croatia by a mere 25 points at 21500 after Rakow's win over Aris Limassol.
Turning to Panathinaikos, their historic qualification adds a distinct achievement to their legacy. While it might not immediately influence Greece's standings, Ivan Jovanovic's team is poised for two pivotal encounters in the Champions League playoffs against Braga. These games offer the potential to bolster Greece's standing on the European stage.
Above Greece, the Czech Republic's presence was highlighted through Sparta Prague, who held Copenhagen to a 3-3 draw after extra time, with the Danes clinching the qualification in a penalty shootout. With an additional 125 points, the Czechs maintained their 18th position with a total of 23675 points.