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AEK Athens preview
AEK Athens coach Dusan Bajevic has urged his players to avenge their 4-0 Merseyside mauling by defeating Everton in Athens to claim a place in the last 32 of the Europa League at the expense of David Moyes' side.

AEK put in one of their most disappointing displays of what has been a poor season at Goodison Park in September and tomorrow's Group I showdown between the two sides in Athens could define the Yellows' season.

Despite a return to form at the weekend, when they moved up to fifth place thanks to a 1-0 home win over PAOK Salonica, AEK remain 12 points off the pace in the Super League and are out of the Greek Cup.

Therefore, the visit of Everton effectively represents a last chance for AEK to keep alive a season not yet at its halfway point.

A draw will guarantee AEK something to play for on matchday six but a loss would mark the end of their campaign, while Everton will qualify if they win and BATE Borisov fail to beat section leaders Benfica.

"We can't forget the first result against Everton and we have to show we are better than that," said Bajevic.

"If we manage to play at the level we know we can then I'm certain that we will take the win that we need."

AEK are preparing for the visit of Everton amid a deepening financial crisis that has engulfed the club. Major shareholder Nikos Notias has embarked on a worldwide search for an investor who could pull the club out of its troubles.

AEK's imposing Sweden defender Daniel Majstorovic, who missed the defeat at Goodison due to injury, is back to shore up the Greek side's defence, and he insisted the players will be fully focused on the match.

"Of course this situation isn't easy for us but we need to be focused on playing," he said.

"The game is very important for the team and we must stay concentrated."

AEK have minimal injury problems ahead of the contest, with their only absentees being defender Sanel Jahic and on-loan Liverpool forward Krisztian Nemeth, both of whom are nursing minor leg injuries.

Everton preview
Everton come into the game on the back of a grim pair of outings against Benfica.

A 5-0 loss to the Portuguese side on Matchday Three was their heaviest away defeat in Europe while a 2-0 loss on November 5 was their biggest UEFA club competition home reverse.

Their domestic form has also been less than impressive, with Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Liverpool at Goodison Park in the Merseyside derby leaving the club lingering in 16th place with 15 points.

Moyes insists his players can turn their season round, but is not expecting a repeat of his team's 4-0 win over AEK on Matchday One.

"I never think any win is easy; I think you always have to work hard for it," said Moyes. "I think tomorrow will be a much more difficult game.

"AEK have showed good home form in Europe, particularly against Benfica when they won 1-0, so that shows that it will be a different game." Moyes has been hit with further injuries with defender Joseph Yobo failing to make the trip to Athens due to a hamstring injury which forced him off during Sunday's derby. Leon Osman, who is nursing a foot injury, also misses out.

Midfielder Jack Rodwell made the trip but is a slight doubt with groin trouble while Lucas Neill and John Heitinga are both ineligible.

AEK Athens vs Everton

Last modified 22:56 02/12/09

DINIYAR BILYALETDINOV grabbed the only goal against AEK Athens to fire Everton into the knock-out stage of the Europa Cup.

The victory over the Greek side last night coupled with Benfica’s 2-1 victory over BATE Borisov in Belarus was enough to ensure David Moyes' side finish second in Group I with one game to spare.

But victory came at a cost as  Everton’s crippling injury list grew even bigger with Sylvain Distin, Dan Gosling and Jo becoming the latest casualties.

Gosling left the rain-lashed pitch after just 10 minutes with a hamstring pull, while Distin, who was a doubt ahead of the game with the same problem, succumbed to a recurrence eight minutes later.

Striker Jo lasted until the second half, but picked up a suspected knee injury.

“I don't think Jo's injury is serious,” Moyes said. "I am concerned about Sylvain and Dan as both are both hamstring strains. We will have them assessed tomorrow.

“I think the main reason for the injuries is down to overloading them. Sylvain has had to play just about every minute of every game.”

The departure of Gosling and Distin meant Moyes was forced to throw two 17-year-olds into the action as Jose Baxter was handed his debut and Shane Duffy was given the chance of a second appearance in a blue shirt.

As well as the early loss of two key players, the biggest obstacle for Moyes’ side was the state of the sodden Spyros Louis Stadium pitch, which deteriorated with every minute.

“I think the conditions did play a part. It was an energy-sapping pitch,” Moyes added. It was like back to the old days. I would have enjoyed it in my playing days but I don't know how some of the players felt about the conditions out there."

However, the visitors made the perfect start, taking a sixth minute lead. Tim Cahill won a flick-on releasing Jo and the Brazilian did very well to thread a pass into the path of Bilyaletdinov, who crashed home a superb effort into the roof of the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

AEK threatened only occasionally in the first half although Tim Howard, who had earlier had to contend with a laser pen being aimed at him from an AEK Athens fan among the sparse crowd, made a decent save at full stretch by palming away Panagiotis Taxtsidis’ long-range effort.

The home side were more of a threat after the break. Hersi grazed the outside of the post in the second half and Juanfran was denied a sight on goal by Duffy’s intercepted header and Baxter blocked a Manduca drive, while Jo nearly doubled Everton’s lead with a neat shot that was inches wide.

There was a late penalty scare when Juanfran went down in the box under a challenge from Seamus Coleman, but his appeals fell on deaf ears.

While Everton are successfully through to the last 32 they can now concentrate on putting their Premier League form right. A run of just one win in eight has seen them plunge down the table.

Moyes added: “The early goal helped us. The young players who came in did really well tonight and I'm delighted with them.

“It's very important to have qualified with a game to spare as it gives us a week where we don't need to be too intense with the squad.”