12 hours ago
3
Uefa Conference League: AEK Larnaca v Aberdeen
Where: AEK Arena, Larnaca When: Thursday, 6 November Kick-off: 17:45 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Sounds and Radio Scotland Extra, updates via BBC Sport app and website
A cursory glance at AEK Larnaca's last result and the Conference League standings is enough for Aberdeen to know they are in for a tough time in Cyprus on Thursday.
The Cypriot Cup holders' 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park was a huge shock, but added to their growing reputation after thumping AZ Alkmaar - third in the Eredivisie - 4-0 in their opener.
Yes, Alkmaar had a man sent off after only two minutes and, yes, Palace were wasteful in their first proper European home match, but those results are more than enough evidence to suggest Larnaca will be fierce opponents for Aberdeen.
Only Fiorentina, courtesy of away goals scored, are above them in the table.
To compound matters, the Scottish Cup winners' campaign stands in stark contrast as they sit bottom after their worst ever loss in European competition, a 6-0 drubbing by AEK Athens.
With this game marking the halfway point in the campaign, Jimmy Thelin's side simply have to start picking up points if they want to reach the knockout stage.
Larnaca are a club who have punched above their weight for 10 years, something Aberdeen could learn a lot from.
Larnaca's sporting director Xavier Roca has been the key to a Spanish-inspired upturn in the last decade.
The former Barcelona B and Villarreal player has been at the club for most of the last 10 years - an ill-fated season at Panathinaikos aside - and in that time AEK have finished as runners-up in Cyprus six times having never managed to before.
They have also won the domestic cup twice and have now made it to the group or league phase of European football four times and to the last 16 of the Conference League in 2023.
Roca has had eight Spanish coaches in charge, including Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola for a brief spell, and has tapped into the Spanish market for players as well.
Current head coach Imanol Idiakez, a former assistant to Unai Emery at Villareal, is back for a third stint at AEK after former Rangers and Manchester United defender Henning Berg left for Omonia Nicosia at the end of last season.
Idiakez has six of his compatriots in the current squad to choose from, as well as a few others who plied their trade in Spanish football before moving to Cyprus.
The squad is largely a mix of players with second and top-tier experience in Spain or Italy, and players from Eastern Europe, a market Cypriot clubs have turned to a lot in recent years.
Captain Angel Garcia, lively Venezuelan winger Yerson Chacon, and last season's top scorer Enzo Cabrera are all out injured, which is a boost for Aberdeen.
However, neither Garcia nor Cabrera featured against Alkmaar or Palace anyway and Chacon suffered a season-ending knee injury after 19 minutes at Selhurst Park.
AEK have very able replacements, though. Striker Riad Bajic slammed in the winner against Palace and also scored at home to AZ, while winger Djordje Ivanovic is the team's joint top scorer with five goals.
The midfield is packed with technical players who have played at a good level.
Marcus Rohden has 19 Sweden caps and played extensively in Italy after moving from Elfsborg, Thelin's former club.
He is the more creative spark, while Pere Pons, who played over 200 times for Girona, and Gustavo Ledes, an ex Barcelona youth player, will sit and get AEK playing.
Larnaca comfortably dispatched Legia Warsaw - Hibernian's conquerors in the Conference League play-off round - in Europa League qualifying as Cypriot clubs show it is possible to punch above your weight in Europe.
It's time some of Scotland's clubs did the same. Over to you, Aberdeen.
