Athens, Greece – Varga Barnabás endured a frustrating outing with AEK Athens on Sunday, seeing a potential equalizing goal disallowed in a 2-2 draw against Atromitos in a crucial Greek Super League match. Despite the setback, the Hungarian forward continues to be a pivotal player for Marko Nikolics’ side, demonstrating his impact even when not finding the back of the net.
The draw leaves AEK level on points with league leaders PAOK and second-placed Olympiakos, but they remain in third place due to an inferior goal difference. This result comes just days after Varga Barnabás helped propel AEK Athens to a 4-0 victory over NK Celje in the first leg of the Conference League round of 16, scoring in the third minute of the match – marking his goal in a third different European competition this season.
Atromitos took the lead through Gerasimos Mitoglu, a former AEK player who notably refrained from celebrating his goal against his previous club. Despite a dominant start from AEK, with Varga Barnabás posing a threat with two dangerous headers in the first half-hour, they found themselves trailing. The situation became even more complex as Luka Jović quickly responded with a brace to put AEK ahead, only for Samuel Moutoussamy to equalize for Atromitos in the 71st minute.
The disallowed goal for Varga Barnabás came in added time of the first half, following a free kick delivered by Razvan Marin. Interestingly, Atromitos also had a goal ruled out for offside earlier in the match, adding to the contentious nature of the contest. In the closing moments, Varga Barnabás had another opportunity to snatch a win, but his header from a João Mario corner was expertly saved by Georgian goalkeeper Luka Gugesashvili.
Varga Barnabás has been a consistent presence in the AEK Athens lineup, starting in every match since finding the net in the Conference League. His performance against Atromitos showcased his continued activity and threat, despite not being on the scoresheet.
⚽️🔥 Ο Βάργκα Μπάρναμπας έδωσε το σήμα για το γκολ, αλλά το VAR το ακύρωσε! ❌https://t.co/xxxxxxxxxx
— AEK F.C. (@AEK_FC)
AEK Athens’ streak of 11 consecutive wins came to an end with the draw against Atromitos, a team they hadn’t lost to since October 2020. The point gained was bittersweet, as AEK conceded more goals in this single match than they had in their previous eight away games against Atromitos combined. As Nemzeti Sport reports, the draw highlights the competitive nature of the Greek Super League title race.
Varga Barnabás’ European Form
Varga Barnabás’s goal against Celje marked a significant achievement for the forward, making him the first Hungarian player to score in all three major European competitions – the Champions League qualifying rounds (6 goals), the Europa League group stage (4 goals), and now the Conference League knockout phase (1 goal) – within the same season. Index.hu details his impressive European form this season.
Looking Ahead
AEK Athens will now turn their attention back to the Conference League, preparing for the return leg against NK Celje. With a comfortable 4-0 lead from the first leg, they are heavily favored to advance to the quarter-finals. Domestically, the battle for the Greek Super League title remains fiercely contested, and AEK will need to regroup and maintain their form if they hope to lift the trophy. The team will need to capitalize on their opportunities and avoid costly mistakes, as demonstrated in the draw against Atromitos.
The coming weeks will be crucial for both Varga Barnabás and AEK Athens as they navigate their commitments in both European and domestic competitions. Fans will be eager to see if Varga can continue his goal-scoring form and lead his team to success on both fronts.
What are your thoughts on Varga Barnabás’ performance this season? Share your opinions in the comments below!
