AEK came close to... reliving the epic of 1977, as they "matched" the 3-0 defeat they suffered at Rayo Vallecano's home ground, but Palazon's goal in the 60th minute, making it 3-1, decided the qualification in favour of the Madrid team.
Dikefalos, with their victory over the Spaniards, broke the record for most wins in the main phase of a European competition, a record set by František Fadrhonc's Union in 1977, when they reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup.
It is worth noting that after 3 qualifications in the preliminary rounds, AEK defeated Aberdeen, Samsunspor, Fiorentina, Craiova, Celje and Rayo Vallecano.
Andreas Dimatos' relevant post
"AEK fought hard, but failed to repeat the feat of 1977. However, tonight they broke a record that had stood since that great campaign!
AEK had not achieved five victories in the main European season (excluding qualifiers) since the 1976-77 season!
Never before until this year!
A record that had stood for almost 50 years!
A record that AEK equalled in the 0-4 win against Celje and broke tonight with their sixth European victory in the main season, not counting the three in the summer qualifiers!
Another record in a particularly remarkable European run that ended tonight in Nea Filadelfeia!"
A European run that AEK had not had since the beginning of this century...