TRIPOLI, Greece (Interstat) — A second-half substitute made the decisive impact as AEK Athens maintained its commanding position atop Greece’s Super League 1 with a 1-0 victory over Asteras Tripolis on Saturday.

The match, played before a crowd of 5,227 at Stadio Theodoros Kolokotronis, was decided by a 38th-minute goal from AEK’s Luka Jović, who had entered the game just moments earlier. The result extended AEK’s unbeaten run in the league to seven matches and solidified its status as the title favorite.

The first half was a cagey, physical affair with few clear chances. The game’s first yellow card was shown in the 19th minute to Asteras midfielder Mumo for a reckless challenge. The match seemed destined for a scoreless halftime stalemate until AEK manager Matías Almeyda’s tactical change altered its course.

Introduced in the 35th minute, Jović needed only three minutes to make his mark. The sequence began with defender Issiaga Sylla driving forward down the left flank. His pass found fellow substitute Llazaros Rota, who quickly laid the ball off to an unmarked Jović near the penalty spot. The Serbian striker took one touch to control before firing a low shot past Asteras goalkeeper Nikolaos Papadopoulos.

The goal was Jović’s first in league play since joining AEK and was credited with assists to Rota and Sylla. Statistical service Interstat had projected a 1-1 draw, but Jović’s clinical finish proved the difference.

The second half grew increasingly fractious as the home side, desperate for an equalizer, committed a series of fouls. AEK’s disciplined defense, however, limited Asteras to half-chances and speculative efforts. Asteras Tripolis, which has struggled for consistency all season, now has just two wins in 17 Super League 1 matches.

The physical tone resulted in five yellow cards in a 31-minute span after the restart. Asteras substitute Aboubakary Koïta was booked in the 55th minute, followed by AEK’s Sylla in the 58th. AEK substitute Filipe Relvas saw yellow in the 61st, Rota in the 67th, and goal-scorer Jović received a caution in the 86th minute for time-wasting.

AEK Athens controlled possession in the closing stages, effectively seeing out the match to secure three points. The victory improves AEK’s Super League 1 record to 14 wins, two losses and two draws, keeping the club clear at the summit. Their overall record across all competitions this season now stands at 22 wins, three losses and five draws.

For Asteras Tripolis, the defeat is another setback in a difficult campaign. Their league record falls to two wins, eight losses and seven draws, leaving them mired in the lower half of the table. Their overall record across all competitions is 12 wins, 15 losses and 11 draws.

The match was a repeat of the season’s earlier encounter on Aug. 31, 2025, which AEK also won by a 1-0 scoreline.

AEK Athens will look to continue its title charge when it hosts rival Olympiakos SFP on Feb. 1. Asteras Tripolis, seeking to climb away from relegation concerns, will try to rebound on the same day with a visit to APO Levadeiakos.

According to Interstat’s ELO rating system, AEK entered the match with an 87.10 percent probability of victory, a projection the league leaders fulfilled through a professional, if not spectacular, away performance.