Get AEK Athens vs LASK Linz prediction, lineups, betting tips, and odds ahead of this Champions League clash. Discover top value picks and team news.
AEK Athens vs LASK Linz Match Summary
Competition | Champions League |
|---|---|
Match Date | Tuesday 8 September 2026 |
Match Time | 17:45 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Allwyn Arena |
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming) | TNT Sports 2 (UK) |
The Champions League league phase gets going for both sides here, with AEK Athens taking on LASK Linz at the Allwyn Arena on Tuesday evening.
AEK are back at Europe's top table for the first time since 2018-19, seeing off Levski Sofia 4-0 on aggregate in the play-off round with Marko Nikolic's side in strong shape.
LASK reach the Champions League proper for the first time in their history, having overturned a three-goal deficit against Celtic with a remarkable extra-time win to get here.
Both arrive on the back of dramatic play-off ties, and with AEK unbeaten in six across all competitions this looks a fascinating opener despite the gulf in European pedigree.
AEK Athens vs LASK Linz Form
AEK are flying, unbeaten in six with four wins and two draws, scoring 16 and conceding just once. They kept clean sheets in both legs against Levski Sofia and have four shut-outs from their opening seven outings. Barnabas Varga bagged twice in the play-off, while Luka Jovic scored and assisted, so the front two are firing.
LASK land here on the back of four straight wins, capped by that stunning 5-1 extra-time comeback against Celtic to go through 5-4 on aggregate. They have scored 21 goals in their last six, so the attacking threat is genuine, though the loss of qualifying top scorer Samuel Adeniran through injury blunts them. Christoph Lang carries added responsibility up top.
AEK Athens vs LASK Linz Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
AEK Athens: Christos Alexiou (Injured/out)
LASK Linz: Ramiz Harakate (Injured/out), Art Smakaj (Injured/out), Cheikne Kebe (Injured/out), Samuel Adeniran (Injured/out)
AEK Athens
Christos Alexiou is the only absentee, so AEK are close to full strength. Thomas Strakosha should keep goal behind a back four of Lazaros Rota, Harold Moukoudi, Filipe Relvas and Stavros Pilios. The engine room of Razvan Marin and Kaan Kairinen brings control, with Lovro Majer and Aboubakary Koita feeding a front two of Varga and Jovic.
LASK Linz
Dietmar Kuhbauer is without Harakate, Smakaj, Kebe and Adeniran, the last of those the biggest blow up front. Lukas Jungwirth starts in goal behind a back three of Xavier Mbuyamba, Alemao and Andres Andrade. Kasper Jorgensen and Yvan Dibango offer width at wing-back, with Krystof Danek in behind Moses Usor and Christoph Lang.
AEK Athens vs LASK Linz Predicted Lineup
AEK Athens
Formation: 4-4-2
Predicted Starting Lineup: Strakosha; Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas, Pilios; Majer, Marin, Kairinen, Koita; Jovic, Varga
LASK Linz
Formation: 3-4-1-2
Predicted Starting Lineup: Jungwirth; Andrade, Alemao, Mbuyamba; Jorgensen, Horvath, Bogarde, Dibango; Danek; Lang, Usor
AEK Athens vs LASK Linz Key Stats & Match Facts
AEK are unbeaten in six across all competitions, winning four and drawing two, scoring 16 and conceding just once.
LASK are the fifth Austrian club to reach the Champions League proper, after Red Bull Salzburg, Sturm Graz, Rapid Wien and Austria Wien.
AEK reached the Europa Conference League quarter-finals in the 2025-26 European campaign.
LASK have scored 21 goals across their last six matches, underlining their threat in the final third.
Portuguese official Luis Godinho takes charge of the fixture, with Tiago Martins on VAR duty.
AEK Athens vs LASK Linz Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: AEK are clear home favourites here and the numbers back that up, with the projection pointing to a 2-1 AEK Athens win. Their defensive solidity and home momentum should just about see off a LASK side that carries a threat but has lost its leading scorer. Our AEK Athens vs LASK Linz prediction is a 2-1 home victory.
Best Bets
Luka Jovic Over 3.5 Shots in Player Shots. With AEK the clear home favourites and carrying real attacking momentum, Jovic is the focal point up top and well-placed to rack up more than 3.5 shots in a fixture where the hosts are expected to dominate possession and territory.
Kasper Jorgensen To Be Shown A Card. Starting at right wing-back, Jorgensen has to deal with AEK's dynamic left side and is likely to be dragged into plenty of defensive scrambles, giving him a real prospect of going into the book.
AEK Athens vs LASK Linz Bet Builder
Our AEK Athens vs LASK Linz bet builder tips back the hosts to win, Luka Jovic to score anytime and both teams to find the net in a lively Champions League opener.
AEK Athens to win is the anchor. Unbeaten in six and firing at home, Nikolic's side have the quality and the momentum to get their campaign off to a winning start.
Luka Jovic to score anytime looks solid. He netted and assisted against Levski Sofia and leads the line for a side brimming with attacking confidence in front of goal.
Both teams to score fits neatly too. LASK have banged in 21 goals across their last six, so even without Adeniran they carry a genuine threat at the other end.
It also chimes with the projected 2-1 scoreline, a home win with goals shared, tying the three legs together into one coherent Champions League opener.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 9/2 and is as short as 16/5 elsewhere.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
AEK Athens vs LASK Linz Talking Points
This is a night of firsts and returns. LASK make their maiden appearance in the modern 36-team single-table league phase, while AEK end a seven-year absence from the main tournament having last featured at this stage in 2018-19. AEK are the more experienced outfit and their defensive record allied to home momentum gives them a clear platform. LASK, though, will not sit back. That fearless approach overturned Celtic, and with 21 goals in their last six they clearly fancy their attacking threat even without Adeniran. Expect Kuhbauer's side to go for it, which should make for an open, watchable opener.
AEK Athens vs LASK Linz Predictions FAQs
When is the AEK Athens vs LASK Linz Champions League game?
The match takes place on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, kicking off at 17:45 UK time.
Where is AEK Athens vs LASK Linz being played?
The match is being played at Allwyn Arena.
Where can I watch AEK Athens vs LASK Linz?
The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.
What competition is AEK Athens vs LASK Linz in?
AEK Athens vs LASK Linz is a Champions League fixture.
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