Albion suffered home defeat on their Euro debut against AEK Athens.

They twice levelled through Joao Pedro penalties and had chances either side of Ezequiel Ponce’s winner for the Greek champions.

Two towering presences of the Albion squad were ruled out as they went without Lewis Dunk and Evan Ferguson.

Ansu Fati made his first start on loan from Barcelona and Igor was handed his debut in defence.

As expected, Solly March, Billy Gilmour and Pervis Estupinan returned to the XI.

Damian Szymanski was brought into the middle of the AEK defence with both first-choice centre-backs missing while Levi Garcia was passed fit to join the attack after a recent injury.

There was a buzz around the city and then the stadium for his landmark occasion with noisy AEK fans decked out in their yellow and black playing a full part.

An electric atmosphere was cranked up a level at the start, punctuated only when AEK opted to change ends and make the hosts attack the North Stand in the first half.

Albion just looked to have settled when they went behind on 11 minutes.

James Milner was forced to concede a corner on the AEK left, which was delivered to Djibril Sidibe, unmarked just inside the box.

Sidibe powered an extraordinary header high past Steele for the opener.

Albion responded but did not look watertight at the back and Levi Garcia was denied by Jason Steele, then sent a chance wide when he got in behind.

The hosts had two opportunities to draw level.

A nice build-up led to Ansu firing in a shot which was parried. Then Joao Pedro whipped in a superb cross from the left and Igor, still up from a set-piece, headed wide.

There was a strong Joao Pedro influence to the leveller on the half-hour.

He was initially booked for a dive as he stepped inside a tackle from Ehsan Hajsafi.

Replays were clear that the defender had clipped his man and, after a VAR monitor check, Joao Pedro sent keeper Cian Stankovic the wrong way from the spot.

Albion were suddenly on top with Joao Pedro enjoying himself and Kaoru Mitoma and Estupinan linking on the left.

But AEK settled themselves - and then went back in front. A free-kick was delivered from quite a wide position on the their left and Mijat Gacinovic slid in to net.

AEK might have extended their lead by the interval had Jan Paul van Hecke not made a goal-saving tackle on Orbelin Pineda.

Mitoma twice got outside his man – or men – late in the half but on each occasion the cross was caught by Stankovic.

Albion attacked early in the second half but without great conviction.

They lost James Milner to injury, Tariq Lamptey taking his place, while Hajsafi went off for AEK after a clash of heads with Van Hecke which left the AEK defender needing prolonged treatment in the goalmouth.

Van Hecke went to check on his wellbeing before he was stretchered away.

AEK continued to look a very robust, organised and disciplined outfit as Albion chased the game.

Joao Pedro seized on an error by Szymanski, who then kicked him in the shin.

Again no penalty was given, again Tohver was directed to the screen and again he reconsidered.

Pedro was ice cool as he slotted his second penalty home in the 67th minute.

Now it was Albion fans in full voice – and they could scarcely believe Milad Mohammadi, on for Hajsafi, got away with a lunge on the flying Lamptey.

Emotions were running high.

The key for Albion was to keep composure, patience and concentration, both in attack and defence.

A gap opened for Mitoma, whose shot was blocked.

A foul by the stretching van Hecke brought him a yellow card but not further punishment as Steven Zuber curled his free-kick narrowly wide.

Then the Dutch defender slid a superb pass to get Joao Pedro away, to the right of goal, only for a tame shot to be saved by the keeper.

Joao Pedro was replaced by Danny Welbeck as a pulsating contest went into its last ten minutes plus added time.

Welbeck’s first act was to get out of the way of a fierce Pascal Gross free-kick which Stankovic punched away.

But AEK pounced on a counter when the ball bounced in off Ezequiel Ponce after Steele saved his first effort.

The hosts were caught two-on-to at the back and Niclas Eliasson slid the ball back into Ponce, who had headed it on to him with Van Hecke and Lamptey floundering.

Still there was time for Albion to save the game in 13 minutes of stoppage time.

But the closest they came was when Stankovic soared to tip over a shot from substitute Simon Adingra.

There was to be one last moment of excitement as Stankovic pushed out another Gross blast and Welbeck met the rebound with an incisive header which flicked off the roof of the net. 

Albion: Steele; Milner (Lamptey 55), Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Gross, Gilmour (Buonanotte 86); March, Ansu, Mitoma (Adingra 86); Joao Pedro (Welbeck 82). Subs: Verbruggen, McGill, Veltman, Webster, Dahoud, Lallana, Hinshelwood, Baleba.

Goal: Joao Pedro pens 30, 67.

Yellow card: Igor 48, Estupinan 66, Van Hecke 76, Welbeck 90+4.

AEK: Stankovic; Sidibe, Mitoglu, Szymanski, Hajsafi (Mohammadi 60); Jonsson, Pineda (Mantalos 79), Amrabat, Gacinovic (Eliasson 79); Garcia (Ponce 68), Araujo (Zuber 68). Subs: Athanasiadis, Thoecharis, Rota, Galanopoulos, Pizarro.

Goals: Sidibe 11, Gacinovic 40, Ponce 84.

Yellow card: Mitoglu 67, Szymanski 67, Ponce 69, Gacinovic 72, Eliasson 90, Mantalos 90+8, Mohammadi 90+10.

Ref: Kristo Tohver (Estonia).