It’s been a superb season for Shamrock Rovers on the domestic front.
They were recently confirmed as Premier Division champions for the fifth time in six years, finishing three points ahead of second-place Derry City.
They could also do the double on Sunday, if they can beat Cork City in the FAI Cup final.
Stephen Bradley will have one eye on that game tonight as he chooses his starting XI for this similarly important European clash.
After the terrific achievement of becoming the first Irish side to qualify for a European group stages without the benefit of the Champions Path, they have had a difficult start to the league phase with defeats against Sparta Prague and Celje.
Even though they lost to Celje, AEK Athens are unlikely to be a much easier test — the side that finished fourth in the Greek top flight last season beat Aberdeen 6-0 in the last Conference League matchday.
6 Nov 2025
5:30PM
Confirmation of Shamrock Rovers’ starting XI this evening…
27 mins: Marin puts a dangerous ball into the Rovers area.
But Kutesa doesn’t properly get a hold of the volley, which is off target.
6 Nov 2025
6:17PM
28 mins: Rota puts in another dangerous ball.
But Lopes gets to it ahead of Jović and clears the danger under pressure.
6 Nov 2025
6:18PM
30 mins: Rovers need to be careful with their discipline.
Watts joins Burke in the referee’s notebook after committing another late challenge.
6 Nov 2025
6:21PM
33 mins: The home crowd are growing uneasy, and that’s translating to AEK’s play on the pitch, with a couple of loose passes adding to the sense of frustration.
The referee also had to stop the game momentarily after a green laser was shone in McGinty’s eye as he was preparing to take a goal kick.
So half-time and it’s been a pretty satisfactory first half from Stephen Bradley’s perspective.
Rovers spent most of the half on the back foot, but they have defended well, leaving the hosts increasingly frustrated.
They were also clinical on the counter-attack, with McGovern doing well to win the penalty and Burke slotting home in a rare foray forward for the visitors.
It would be a hugely impressive result if the Hoops can hang on, but it won’t be easy, as they will tire as their opponents dominate possession and territory.
6 Nov 2025
6:52PM
Shamrock Rovers have made a triple change at the break.
McEneff, Grant and Barrett are on.
Burke, Watts and Matthews go off.
6 Nov 2025
6:52PM
The second half has begun…
6 Nov 2025
6:53PM
AEK have also made changes.
Marin and Kutesa are replaced by Pierrot and Koïta.
Moukoudi’s header from an inswinging free kick is saved. Jović taps home the rebound, but the linesman has his flag up and replays confirm the striker did not beat Rovers’ offside trap as the ball was delivered.
6 Nov 2025
7:01PM
More nervy moments for Rovers.
Pineda’s goal-bound shot is deflected out for a corner via the head of O’Sullivan.
As I type, Koïta’s shot from the edge of the area is parried to safety by McGinty.
The visitors have been under the cosh in recent minutes, with AEK looking dangerous.
6 Nov 2025
7:04PM
57 mins: O’Sullivan gets another good block in to divert Pineda’s shot off target.
Moments later, Grace blocks Koïta’s shot.
Pierrot then sends a header wide.
The Irish side are hanging on here with just over 10 minutes of the second half played.
6 Nov 2025
7:07PM
60 mins: Another inviting cross is played in by Rota.
But McGinty saves Moukoudi’s header with relative ease.
Stephen Bradley will likely be happy with the performance.
The visitors were significantly understrength, but still defended doggedly and largely reduced the hosts to half-chances.
The key call against Grant was harsh, but Premier Division outfit will take plenty of encouragement from this game as they bid to pick up more points in the forthcoming games.
6 Nov 2025
7:50PM
Right, that’s from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more to come on the site shortly, and you can follow our liveblog of Shelbourne’s Uefa Conference League game here.
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As it happened: AEK Athens v Shamrock Rovers, Uefa Conference League
AEK Athens 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s been a superb season for Shamrock Rovers on the domestic front.
They were recently confirmed as Premier Division champions for the fifth time in six years, finishing three points ahead of second-place Derry City.
They could also do the double on Sunday, if they can beat Cork City in the FAI Cup final.
Stephen Bradley will have one eye on that game tonight as he chooses his starting XI for this similarly important European clash.
After the terrific achievement of becoming the first Irish side to qualify for a European group stages without the benefit of the Champions Path, they have had a difficult start to the league phase with defeats against Sparta Prague and Celje.
Even though they lost to Celje, AEK Athens are unlikely to be a much easier test — the side that finished fourth in the Greek top flight last season beat Aberdeen 6-0 in the last Conference League matchday.
Confirmation of Shamrock Rovers’ starting XI this evening…
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
Here’s how AEK Athens line out this evening…
We’re underway…
3 mins: Watts has a wild challenge on Pineda early on.
The midfielder is lucky to avoid a booking for a swipe on his opponent.
8 mins: Jovic latches on to a through ball.
But McGinty comfortably gathers the attacker’s cross from the byline.
10 mins: Marin plays Kutesa through on goal.
The winger shows impressive pace to get away from the Rovers defence, but McGinty stops his low finish with his foot.
13 mins: Marin gets away from Grace out wide.
But Lopes intervenes with a well-timed tackle to stop the midfielder in his tracks.
PENALTY TO SHAMROCK ROVERS!
18 mins: McGovern gets away from Marin.
The midfielder trips him, and the ref points to the spot.
However, there is a VAR check.
After a long VAR check and the ref going to the monitor, the original penalty decision is confirmed.
AEK ATHENS 0-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS (BURKE 21)
It’s a good penalty by Burke.
The goalkeeper went the right way, but it was too high and powerful to stop.
The Rovers star also had to cope with the distraction of a green light being shone in his face from one of the AEK supporters.
Here’s a look at the foul that led to the penalty…
27 mins: Marin puts a dangerous ball into the Rovers area.
But Kutesa doesn’t properly get a hold of the volley, which is off target.
28 mins: Rota puts in another dangerous ball.
But Lopes gets to it ahead of Jović and clears the danger under pressure.
30 mins: Rovers need to be careful with their discipline.
Watts joins Burke in the referee’s notebook after committing another late challenge.
33 mins: The home crowd are growing uneasy, and that’s translating to AEK’s play on the pitch, with a couple of loose passes adding to the sense of frustration.
The referee also had to stop the game momentarily after a green laser was shone in McGinty’s eye as he was preparing to take a goal kick.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
39 mins: A long ball puts Gacinovic through on goal.
But the attacker doesn’t get a proper hold of his shot, and it goes wide.
Moments later, the same player fires a better effort inches wide.
This is a decent spell for AEK — Shamrock Rovers could do with the half-time whistle.
42 mins: An unusual situation as the referee goes off injured.
The fourth official comes on in his place, and the original ref takes over fourth official duties.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time…
48 mins: Kutesa puts in a cross that McGinty easily claims.
It looks like the Irish champions will head in with a goal advantage at the break.
HALF-TIME: AEK ATHENS 0-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS
So half-time and it’s been a pretty satisfactory first half from Stephen Bradley’s perspective.
Rovers spent most of the half on the back foot, but they have defended well, leaving the hosts increasingly frustrated.
They were also clinical on the counter-attack, with McGovern doing well to win the penalty and Burke slotting home in a rare foray forward for the visitors.
It would be a hugely impressive result if the Hoops can hang on, but it won’t be easy, as they will tire as their opponents dominate possession and territory.
Shamrock Rovers have made a triple change at the break.
McEneff, Grant and Barrett are on.
Burke, Watts and Matthews go off.
The second half has begun…
AEK have also made changes.
Marin and Kutesa are replaced by Pierrot and Koïta.
Rovers breathe a sigh of relief.
Moukoudi’s header from an inswinging free kick is saved. Jović taps home the rebound, but the linesman has his flag up and replays confirm the striker did not beat Rovers’ offside trap as the ball was delivered.
More nervy moments for Rovers.
Pineda’s goal-bound shot is deflected out for a corner via the head of O’Sullivan.
As I type, Koïta’s shot from the edge of the area is parried to safety by McGinty.
The visitors have been under the cosh in recent minutes, with AEK looking dangerous.
57 mins: O’Sullivan gets another good block in to divert Pineda’s shot off target.
Moments later, Grace blocks Koïta’s shot.
Pierrot then sends a header wide.
The Irish side are hanging on here with just over 10 minutes of the second half played.
60 mins: Another inviting cross is played in by Rota.
But McGinty saves Moukoudi’s header with relative ease.
63 mins: Pierrot lays it off to Gaćinović, whose shot from the edge of the box is straight at McGinty.
AEK have got themselves in promising positions on numerous occasions, but their finishing has perennially let them down.
66 mins: Relvas is the latest player to attempt a header from Rota’s cross.
But again, it’s an easy enough save to make for McGinty.
68 mins: McGovern goes down seemingly with cramp.
He is then replaced by Mandroiu after an impressive shift in attack.
70 mins: Koïta takes a free kick from about 30 yards that he curls a few inches over.
AEK are growing increasingly frustrated.
72 mins: Another change for Rovers.
Clarke replaces Malley.
74 mins: Another overhit pass by Rota is greeted with groans from the crowd.
Moments like that must give Rovers a real confidence boost.
76 mins: An AEK corner taken by Mantalos is easily cleared.
It falls to Pilios, who attempts an audacious effort from far out that goes well over.
79 mins: Rota carries the ball across the area.
He lays it to Koïta, who skies his effort and then blames the condition of the pitch for his mishap.
Rovers will be happy enough if they can keep reducing their opponents to those kinds of pot shots.
82 mins: Decent chance for AEK.
Gaćinović gets in behind Lopes and puts in a good cross.
But Jović steers his first-time effort over the bar from close range.
PENALTY TO AEK!
Grant is penalised for a handball.
It will go to a VAR check.
It looked harsh from the replays I could see.
The referee is being called over to the monitor.
It looked like Grant was being dragged back as he handled the ball.
The penalty has been given.
It could have easily gone either way in truth.
AEK 1-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS (JOVIC 90)
McGinty goes the right way, but it’s right in the corner, and the goalkeeper has no chance of stopping it.
AEK will surely now fancy their chances of grabbing a winner.
There will be seven minutes of stoppage time…
AEK made a double change just after the goal.
Vida and Pereyra replace Gaćinović and Pilios.
94 mins: Let-off for Rovers.
Relvas’ header is saved by McGinty, and then Jović heads a gilt-edged chance wide on the rebound.
FULL-TIME: AEK ATHENS 1-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS
So a late penalty denies Rovers a famous win.
Stephen Bradley will likely be happy with the performance.
The visitors were significantly understrength, but still defended doggedly and largely reduced the hosts to half-chances.
The key call against Grant was harsh, but Premier Division outfit will take plenty of encouragement from this game as they bid to pick up more points in the forthcoming games.
Right, that’s from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more to come on the site shortly, and you can follow our liveblog of Shelbourne’s Uefa Conference League game here.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
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