ATHENS, Jun 2 – AEK Athens secured their place in next season’s Champions League qualifying rounds on Wednesday as they finished top in a four-team Greek Super League play-off. AEK beat another Athens side, Panionios, 2-1 to top the mini league ahead of PAOK, who lost 3-2 at home to Panathinaikos.
Just four years after being relegated to the lower leagues due to serious financial problems, AEK will go into the Champions League for the first time in a decade, entering in the third qualifying round. PAOK, Panathinaikos and Panionios, who propped up the play-off group, go into the Europa League. Greek champions Olympiakos had already secured their place in the Champions League third qualifying round. — AFP
