AEK: Nikolic's rotation paid off

This time Marko Nikolic chose a different approach. He opened up the rotation, trusted more players, and saw AEK return to winning ways, maintaining the necessary strength after their demanding European commitment.

With five changes to the starting eleven compared to the match against Manchester City, the "Union" easily defeated Panetolikos. Two different examples had preceded this, from which the Serbian coach seems to have learned his lesson.

The two previous "lessons"

After the home leg against Levski, Nikolic had kept the main lineup almost intact. In the away match against Kifisia, he made only one change, with Vitalis taking Kairinen's place.

The other ten players were called upon to bear the burden again, a few days after the European battle, with AEK ultimately dropping two points.

Something similar happened in Tripoli, after the home game with LASK. The interventions were more numerous, but remained limited. Arriaga replaced Vitalis, Gacinovic replaced Koita, and Zini replaced Varga.

Three changes, eight players again in the starting eleven, and another draw. The outcome was clear: two returns from European matches and an equal number of blunders in the league.

Five changes against Panetolikos

This time Nikolic went a step further, changing almost half of the starting eleven. Kairinen, Vitalis, Mantalos, Koita, and Zini started, offering more energy and freshness.

Marin, Arriaga, Mayer, Joao Mario, and Jovic were left out of the starting lineup. At the same time, Varga and Zini had only played for one half in Manchester, which limited their own burden.

The renewal mainly concerned the midfield and attack, i.e., the areas where AEK most needed fresh legs, movement, and intensity.

The message for the future

The rotation paid off, AEK achieved a comfortable victory, and Nikolic received an important message for the future.

Trust in a stable core provides cohesion, but the successive schedule requires more available protagonists. Even more so when high-demand Champions League matches intervene between domestic obligations. The derby in the cup with PAOK is also coming up.