Conference League

2026-04-16 - AEK Athens vs Rayo Vallecano

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

AEK Athens v Rayo Vallecano
Football: UEFA Conference League Quarter Final Second Leg
Thursday 16th April 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

AEK Athens

They are leading the Greek title race so there is plenty for AEK Athens to play for through the remainder of the campaign, but the European hopes look to be in tatters after the 3-0 defeat in Spain last week. The Greek Football Association did not schedule any fixtures for the weekend in between the two Legs and that does mean AEK Athens have had a full week to prepare a plan to turn things around in this Conference League Quarter Final.

Two years ago, AEK Athens' rivals Olympiacos managed to win the Conference League and so fans will have had real expectations of a deep run in the competition. Avoiding the favourites in Fiorentina and Crystal Palace looked to be a bonus, but AEK Athens have it all to do following the three goal defeat in the First Leg. The side did win 5 of the opening 6 home games in the Conference League this season, but AEK Athens were beaten 0-2 here by Celje in the Last 16, albeit after winning the First Leg 0-4 away from home.

AEK Athens had won consecutive games before the heavy defeat at Rayo Vallecano last week. They have won 4 of the last 6 at home in all competitions, which will give AEK Athens some belief, and the last victory in front of the home fans was by a 3-0 scoreline.

Rayo Vallecano

This is only the second time Rayo Vallecano have embarked on a season in European Football and the squad have struggled with the extra fixtures. While the run in the Conference League shows no sign of ending, Rayo Vallecano are one of a number of Spanish clubs involved in the relegation scrap with just 3 points separating them and 18th placed Elche and with seven League fixtures still to negotiate.

Unlike the opponent in this Conference League Quarter Final, Rayo Vallecano were involved in domestic action in the weekend between the two Legs of this tie. The lead from the First Leg is a good one, but Rayo Vallecano have struggled for consistency away from home, even if they have won 3 of the 5 played on their travels in the Conference League.

Rayo Vallecano were thumped 3-0 at Mallorca this past weekend and that defeat ended a run of consecutive wins, while also meaning they have lost 3 of the last 5 in all competitions. They have won 1 of the last 8 away games in all competitions, but that was the 1-3 win at Samsunspor in the Last 16 First Leg in the Conference League. Rayo Vallecano have lost 5 of those last 8 away games played in all competitions.

Head to Head

Last week was the first competitive fixture between the clubs.

Prediction

They may have had some opportunities in the First Leg, but the failure to score and the chances allowed have put AEK Athens in a desperate position as they look to secure a spot in the Conference League Semi Final.

Before the tie had begun, AEK Athens cannot have been too concerned about facing a Rayo Vallecano team that had made heavy weather of beating Samsunspor in the Last 16.

The struggles domestically are in contrast to AEK Athens leading the Greek top flight, but none of that mattered as the Spanish side ran away with a comfortable win.

AEK Athens have had a full week to prepare for this Second Leg and they will have noted that Rayo Vallecano were beaten 3-0 at Mallorca this past weekend. An early goal is what the Greek leaders will be chasing so they can begin to turn the momentum around and AEK Athens will take some confidence from the amount of goals they have been scoring at home in the Conference League.

They will also have noted that Rayo Vallecano have been a little vulnerable at the back in this competition, although all of the pressure is on the home team. AEK Athens have to come forward and try and score early, which could play into Rayo Vallecano's hands, especially for a team that have scored in all 5 away Conference League games played this season and managed at least two in 3 of those fixtures.

Much like the early kick off in this competition, the home team will be confident in the level they can produce in front of the supporters to believe there is still something in this tie. However, it feels like AEK Athens are perhaps going to be more vulnerable to a response from Rayo Vallecano and there is every chance the Second Leg ends with at least three goals shared out if both teams pick up close to where they left off last week.

Better composure will be needed by the AEK Athens forwards when they get into the final third, but they have shown they can provide that at home and goals look the order of the night.