AEK secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the Conference League for the first time in 23 years, even though they suffered a 2-0 defeat against the Slovenian team Celje in their home match. The result of the previous week, in which AEK won 4-0, ensured their advancement despite the setback. The game saw AEK struggling initially against a strong Celje side, which took control early on and scored in the 13th minute, drastically affecting AEK's morale. In the first half, AEK had difficulty finding their rhythm, and the Slovenian visitors capitalized on this by scoring another goal before halftime. After the break, AEK showed signs of rejuvenation and started to create some chances in hopes of taking back control of the game. Players like Koita and Gacinovic attempted to threaten the Celje goal, indicating a more aggressive approach from AEK in the second half, although they ultimately couldn't convert those opportunities into goals.