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In the Europa League third qualifying round against AEK Athens, the eastern Swiss want to surprise.
Despite the advantage of playing at home, FC St. Gallen are an outsider in the duel against AEK Athens. Unlike the Eastern Swiss, the Greeks are regulars in the European Cup. The penultimate season Athletik-Union Konstantinopel (AEK) reached the Champions League group stage for the last time.
“AEK is a very strong team, experienced and ripped off with great individual players,” warns FCSG coach Peter Zeidler. “We need a great day to qualify.”
“Another category other than YB or Basel”
There is great respect from the residents of St. Gallen. On the one hand, due to the much greater experience of the Greeks on the European stage (44 vs. 8 participations in the European Cup). On the other hand, for the impressive Palmarès: with a total of 30 national titles, AEK is the eternal number 3 of Greece behind Olympiakos and Panathinaikos.
“AEK is another category than YB or Basel,” says Zeidler before the game. And by that means: one size larger than the two Swiss title collectors of recent years. And if you beat the Athenians, there would be another hurdle awaiting the Eastern Swiss in the Europa League playoffs.
No pressure and no spectator
The constellation of squads also speaks out against St. Gallen. In the championship start against Sion (1-0), the FCSG could not hide that with Cedric Itten (Glasgow Rangers), Ermedin Demirovic (Freiburg) and Silvan Hefti (YB) lost three pillars this season.
The advantage for the St. Gallen team: They start to qualify for the Europa League without pressure. Also: only one game decides the progress, which the FSCG can play at home. Even without a spectator.
Spectators or not, we are dying for this game.
“Of course it is a shame there are no spectators there. But viewers or not, we are dying for this game, ”says newcomer to the FCSG, Basil Stillhart. It’s like a final. Anything can happen. “
