The match started with Brighton attacking and with Fati starting from the first minute. Joao Pedro and Gross were supporting him.
AEK responded with Araujo, Garcia, and Gacinovic as attacking midfielder. The visitors were expecting the right moment to say their word and found the chance to score early in the game.
Sidibe scored in the 10th minute with a header from 14 yards after a cross from Ehsan Haji Safi.
Gacinovic and Amrabat were organizing the attacks in the 21st minute but were interrupted by March and Gilmour. Brighton needed to make more in order to risk the target of Stankovic.
Ansu Fati shot in the 24th, but Stankovic was there to deflect in a corner. Igor tried with a header one minute later, but his attempt ended wide. Joao Pedro was tackled by Haji Safi, but the referee saw it fair to continue the game. After seeing it in VAR, he decided on a penalty.
The equalizer was coming
Joao Pedro scored from 12 yards to equalize the game and send the match into a new moment.
Mitoma was fouled by Jonsson and the referee decided to foul in favor of Brighton in the 32nd. Estupinian and Mitoma were so active on that left side and offered options in possession for Brighton.
Joao Pedro and Haji Safi had a crash in the 36th, with Haji Safi who was injured and left the pitch to get medical treatment.
Sidibe and Amrabat combined in the right flank, and Mitoma tackled Sidibe in the 18-yard box, but the referee judged it as a fair challenge.
Mijat Gacinovic scored the second goal in the 40th minute, after a cross from a free kick by Ehsan Haji Safi. Brighton was in real difficulties and needed to attack.
March and Gross occupied that right side and had some good minutes in the 42nd. Three minutes were added on and the first half was closed to AEK’s advantage.
The second half started with AEK trying to be released by Brighton’s pressure. Garcia was in the fast track on the midfield but was tackled by Igor, who received a yellow.
Brighton had a corner in the 48th minute and wanted to be close to the target of Stankovic. March had another chance with a free kick but was blocked by the wall in the 52nd.
Roberto de Zerbi decided to change Tariq Lamptey with James Milner in the 54th minute. Gerasimos Mitoglu was also injured and needed medical treatment. Milas Mohammadi replaced him on the 61st.
AEK was creating with Garcia, who shot but his shot was saved by Steele. Meanwhile, Brighton responded with Joao Pedro having another chance from 12 yards.
Joao Pedro sent Stankovic in the right side and shot in the left scoring the equalizer for Brighton.
Brighton was playing better, but AEK scored
Lamptey advanced to the right side and was tackled by Mohammadi who escaped without being punished. Gacinovic received a yellow for throwing the ball while Lamptey was taking a throw-in in the 72nd.
Van Hecke presents Joao Pedro with Stankovic in the 78th, but the keeper saves one of most decisive shots of the game.
Niclas Eliasson replaced Mijat Gacinovic and Petros Mantalos replaced Orbelin Pineda in the 79th. Matias Almeida wanted to defend the point in England.
Danny Welbeck replaced Joao Pedro in the 82nd and that meant fresh legs and fresh ideas for the Brighton attack.
AEK stroke for the third time in the game. Elliason passed for Ezequiel Ponce, who finds the net for the third time in the 84th.
De Zerbi replaced Mitoma with Simon Adingra and Billy Gilmour was replaced by Facundo Buonanotte in the 86th.
Brighton was all over the place in the final minutes with Lamptey on the right side. A total of 13 minutes were added on and the home side was insisting on the equalizer.
Adingra shot in the 93rd, but his shot was saved by Stankovic. Pascal Gross shot in the 95th, but his shot was saved again by Stankovic, with Pervis Estupinian sending his header in a rebound out of the target.
Mohammadi and Mantalos receive a yellow each with Kristo Tohver who won’t tolerate aggressive play in the 99th.
The match was closed with a mightily important win for AEK in the first match of group B.