One goal was enough. AEK Athens beat LASK 1-0 in Athens, a tight, low-scoring night that stood in sharp contrast to almost everything else happening across the Champions League on Wednesday.
There was no flurry of goals here, no late twist. AEK made the single strike count and held on, closing out a game that never opened up the way five of the other six fixtures did. For a competition that produced goals for fun elsewhere on the night, AEK's discipline in defence of that slender lead was the story in itself.
Goals Everywhere Else
Away from Athens, the Champions League served up chaos. Borussia Dortmund edged a five-goal thriller with Villarreal, winning 3-2, while Lille and Real Betis matched that scoreline in Lille, with Betis coming out on top 3-2 in favour of the visitors, 2-3 on the night.
Aston Villa were the other side to hit three away from home, beating Club Brugge KV 3-2 in a game that swung back and forth before settling in the visitors' favour. Real Madrid needed a two-goal cushion to see off Inter, winning 2-1, and Manchester City were the most emphatic of the lot, winning 2-0 away at FC Porto without reply.
Add it up and six Champions League matches produced 19 goals between them, with AEK's 1-0 the only game to finish with fewer than three.
The Numbers
- AEK Athens 1-0 LASK
- Club Brugge KV 2-3 Aston Villa
- FC Porto 0-2 Manchester City
- Real Madrid 2-1 Inter
- Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Villarreal
- Lille 2-3 Real Betis
For AEK, the scoreline will read as a job done rather than a statement. They took their chance, shut the game down, and let the rest of the continent do the entertaining.