Brighton & Hove Albion will travel to Greece to take on AEK Athens in a crucial Europa League clash on Thursday evening.
The Seagulls are second in Group B, having picked up seven points from four fixtures. After losing and drawing their opening two group-stage fixtures, they have beaten Ajax home and away to put themselves in a great position towards qualification.
Roberto de Zerbi’s side were beaten 2-3 at home by AEK Athens in their first Europa League game and they will be out to avenge that defeat. The south coast side head to Greece off the back of a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Brighton Team News
Ansu Fati and Tariq Lamptey were the latest injury casualties for Brighton, who already have several players on the sidelines.
Adam Webster, Pervis Estupinan, Solly March, Julio Enciso and Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma, James Milner and Igor Julio were all missing in Brighton’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest at the weekend. However, Roberto de Zerbi appeared hopeful in his press conference ahead of the Forest game that Igor could be fit to face AEK, while Mitoma and Milner will be evaluated further.
Predicted Brighton lineup vs AEK Athens (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper
Jason Steele could be recalled in goal for the European fixture against AEK Athens.
Defence
Brighton are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1, with Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk, Igor Julio and James Miler starting in defence ahead of Steele. Dunk, who picked up a red card against Nottingham Forest, is eligible for the European clash on Thursday and should partner Julio in central defence, with Jan Paul van Hecke suspended.
Milner trained with the squad last weekend and should be fit to face AEK Athens. He will take up the left-back spot, with Veltman keeping his place at right-back.
Midfield
Mahmoud Dahoud looks a certainty to play against AEK Athens given his good recent form and the fact he is one game into a three-game domestic suspension. He could form the double pivot with Pascal Gros in the middle of the park, with Billy Gilmour dropping to the bench.
Adam Lallana will act as the creative glue between midfield and attack, hoping to use his creativity and guile to split open the AEK Athens defence.
Attack
Kaoru Mitoma has trained with the squad last weekend, although he missed out on the game against Nottingham Forest. He should be good to go here, forming a potent front three with Simon Adingra and Joao Pedro for Brighton.
Evan Ferguson, who scored at the weekend, could provide a goal threat off the bench while Jakub Moder may get some minutes on his comeback trail from an ACL injury.
