AEK Larnaca secured a vital 1-0 victory over Serbian giants Partizan Belgrade in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League qualifying tie on July 11, 2025. The Cypriot side defended resolutely and capitalized on a key moment to take a narrow lead into the difficult away leg in Belgrade. The only goal of the game came in the second half, sending the home fans into raptures and giving AEK Larnaca a precious clean sheet to protect. This result represents a significant upset and a strong platform for AEK Larnaca as they aim to navigate a path to the group stages. Partizan Belgrade will be disappointed not to have scored an away goal, setting up a tense and potentially explosive second leg where they must attack from the outset.