Razvan Marin scored an overhead kick for AEK Athens' fourthReuters

Razvan Marin scored an overhead kick for AEK Athens' fourth

At a glance

  • Aberdeen suffer worst ever European defeat

  • Aboubakary Koita scores twice in seven minutes to give AEK 3-0 first-half lead

  • Razvan Marin adds fourth with acrobatic overhead kick as hosts claim two more late goals

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Aberdeen suffered their heaviest ever European defeat as they were humbled by AEK Athens in Greece and slumped a second consecutive Conference League loss.

The chastening contest eclipsed a 4-0 defeat by Liverpool in 1980, as well as 5-1 demolitions by Bayern Munich and Sigma Olomouc in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

Despite a bright start in Athens for Jimmy Thelin's revived side, Aberdeen were always up against it, and it was the hosts who struck first when Aboubakary Koita fired a low strike from the edge of the box into the far corner of Dimitar Mitov's net.

The Scottish Premiership side were totally exposed in defence and Koita grabbed a second just seven minutes later when AEK hit them on the counter-attack and, again, the Mauritania international slotted into the far corner with ease.

Thelin's men were masters of their own downfall as a third goal went in before the clock struck 30 minutes. The visitors gave the ball away on the edge of their box and Nicky Devlin could only smash Niclas Eliasson's effort high into his own net.

Dominant AEK - who had former Hearts left-back James Penrice in their XI - hit the post twice, were denied from close range by Mitov, and sent several attempts just wide - all in the first half.

The second period was much the same. AEK looked comfortable and Aberdeen under pressure and struggling to get any foothold in the match.

An acrobatic finish from Razvan Marin gave the hosts a fourth goal, the 29-year-old Romanian flicking in over his head after Frantz Pierrot hit a post.

Former Real Madrid forward Luka Jovic got the fifth when he robbed Mitov in his own area and smashed high into the net.

Derek Kutesa made it 6-0 when he latched on to a long pass, deep inside the Dons half, and slotted beyond Mitov.

There were a few glimmers of hope for the visitors as Marko Lazetic and Tete Yengi both forced saves from Thomas Strakosha, but there would be no consolation goal.

Analysis: Dons exposed and embarrassed

Aberdeen suffer biggest defeat in EuropeSNS

Aberdeen managed to get their domestic season up and running this month with back-to-back league victories against Dundee and St Mirren. But this display was a far cry from those performances.

It was a record-breaking occasion for all the wrong reasons.

Thelin's men started with attacking intent and looked bright for the opening exchanges - that was until Koita fired the hosts in front after just 11 minutes.

From then on it was wave after wave of AEK attack and, on many occasions, Aberdeen were left wide open at the back.

Not only was it a poor defensive display, but they didn't really offer much going forward and looked devoid of creativity.

These are issues they must resolve, and quickly.

What they said

AEK Athens thrashing could have been more than six - Thelin

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "Sometimes you have to say the opponent was really good. Sometimes you have to put your hands up.

"There were a lot of things that didn't work so we have to learn from this game as a collective, as a coaching team, as a manager and as individuals. We have a journey to do as a team."

Former Aberdeen captain Willie Miller: "The chances AEK created were unbelievable. It's been a lesson and it should be embarrassing.

"If you lose early goals you need to think about the game a bit more and I don't feel Aberdeen did that."

What next?

Aberdeen will be looking to continue their improved domestic form when they host Hibernian on Sunday, 26 October (14:30 GMT), before a trip to Kilmarnock three days later (19:30 GMT).

Player of the match

J. Penrice
7.73
29 J. Penrice
7.73
14 F. Pierrot
6.96
21 D. Vida
6.78
44 Filipe Relvas
6.52
19 N. Eliasson
6.41
13 O. Pineda
6.35
11 A. Koïta
6.30
12 L. Rota
6.29
9 L. Jović
6.11
20 P. Mantalos
6.10
18 R. Marin
6.00
4 M. Grujić
6.00
7 D. Kutesa
5.96
1 T. Strakosha
5.86
23 R. Ljubičić
5.77
8 M. Gaćinović
5.65
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