Vitesse Arnhem 0–0 AEK Athens
International Club Friendly – July 15, 2026 – GelreDome, Arnhem

Match Overview

Vitesse Arnhem and AEK Athens played out a goalless draw in a pre‑season friendly at the GelreDome. With both sides still fine‑tuning their systems ahead of the new season, the match served primarily as a fitness exercise, but there were still moments of quality that kept the sparse crowd engaged.

First‑Half Chances – Defences on Top

The first 45 minutes saw few clear‑cut chances. Vitesse’s new signing Milan van der Heijden tested AEK goalkeeper Georgios Athanasiadis with a dipping volley from 20 yards in the 23rd minute. AEK responded with a sharp counter, but Nordin Amrabat fired wide after a neat one‑two with Steven Zuber.

Both teams rotated heavily, with managers using the full quota of substitutions. Vitesse’s high press caused AEK to lose possession in dangerous areas, but the final pass was always lacking.

Second‑Half Action – Late Push Without Reward

The tempo increased after the break. AEK’s Levi García hit the crossbar in the 67th minute with a curling effort from the left edge of the box. Vitesse pushed forward in the final 15 minutes, with substitute Thomas Buitink seeing a close‑range shot saved by Athanasiadis’ legs. Neither side could break the deadlock, and the referee’s whistle confirmed a 0‑0 draw.

Tactical Observations

• Vitesse: New head coach John van den Brom deployed a 4‑2‑3‑1 with emphasis on wing‑play. The full‑backs pushed high, but AEK’s disciplined back four limited damage.
• AEK: Matías Almeyda’s side looked compact in a 4‑4‑2 diamond. The midfield trio of Jens Jønsson, Damian Szymanski and Petros Mantalos controlled possession but lacked incision in the final third.

Notable Substitutions

Both managers made 11 substitutions across the match, giving fringe players valuable minutes. Vitesse gave a debut to 19‑year‑old academy product Daan Klaassen, who showed promising composure in central midfield. AEK introduced veteran striker Sergio Araujo for the last 20 minutes, but he failed to find space against Vitesse’s experienced centre‑backs.

Friendly Context

This was Vitesse’s third pre‑season friendly of the summer, following wins over lower‑division sides. AEK, meanwhile, are preparing for the new Greek Super League season and a potential UEFA Conference League qualification campaign. The 0‑0 result keeps both teams unbeaten in pre‑season, but attacking sharpness remains a concern for AEK in particular.

What’s Next

Vitesse face German side Bochum in their next friendly on July 20. AEK travel to the Netherlands again to play FC Utrecht three days later.