Adam Virgo says the first goal will be crucial on a big occasion at the Amex.

The former Albion skipper has studied AEK Athens for his role as expert summariser on TNT Sports.

He will be at the Amex tonight and expects an interesting tussle.

Virgo sees the absence of centre-backs Domagoj Vida and Harold Moukoudi as key in what was already not AEK's strongest area.

But he warned: “Going forward they are really strong.

“They are scoring goals. They won the double last year.

“They won the league in 2018 and they have been on a steady rise since then.

“It was no surprise for them to win the league last season. It wasn’t like it came from nowhere.

“What you have got is a continuity of a side who have been used to playing in Europe, even though it is only four games.

“They will be used to that to a certain extent, which Brighton haven’t been.

“The majority of the players who won the double are still there.

“They are possession-based and they play a pressing game.

“The first goal is going to be crucial. If AEK get it, this will be a test for Brighton.

 

“As much as the players are used to playing in the Premier League, this is a huge occasion for the club.

“It’s really important that the players don’t get carried away with it and have that fairytale night than ends up in a 1-0 defeat.

“It can sometimes happen like that.

“But Brighton start as clear favourites.”

Virgo has clear ideas on where AEK could cause a threat.

He said: “Steven Zuber in midfield is very good at set-pieces.

“He scored with a free-kick against Volos in their second game and has been to a World Cup wjth Switzerland.

“He is really key in terms of what they offer going forward in that midfield area.

“Down the left side there is (Milad) Mohammadi, who has played every game in the league, but (Ehsan Haji) Safi plays in Europe.

“When I have seen Safi play, he tends to get forward a lot more and has got a brilliant left foot on him.

“That’s their main route to goal.

“(Jens) Jonsson doesn’t score or assist many goals but he gets around the pitch really well and what he does to start things and without the ball is really key.”

Virgo likes the look of AEK’s two Argentinean forwards.

He said: “(Ezequiel) Ponce is the biggest target player and he probably needs a few chances to find the back jf the net.

“If Brighton allow crosses into the box, he will be there or thereabouts.

“(Sergio) Araujo is technically very good.”

As a local man, Virgo will enjoy the significance of the occasion.

He said: “You’ll have the young kids there who have been used to success, then people who probably got fed up watching me week in and week out at the Withdean and then the older generation who have been through the Goldstone and the FA Cup final.

“It’s going to be a real mixture of what people have been through.”