Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

APOELAPOELvs.Slovan Bratislava

sportsmole.co.uk, 11 August 2024, 10:00
APOEL have a big job on their hands if they are to qualify for the playoff round of the 2024-25 Champions League, having suffered a 2-0 first-leg loss to Slovan Bratislava in the third qualifying round last week.

Bratislava's pressure eventually told in the latter stages, scoring twice in the final 20 minutes, and the Slovakian outfit are now the big favourites to progress to the next round of the competition on Tuesday night.

Match preview

APOEL are 29-time Cypriot champions, which is a record, and they finished at the top of the pile last season to secure qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round.

David Gallego's side managed to squeeze past Petrocub 2-1 on aggregate in the last round, but they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bratislava in the first leg of their third qualifying round fixture on August 7.

APOEL famously reached the quarter-finals of the 2011-12 Champions League, which represents their best-ever performance in the European competition, while they were last present in the group stage of Europe's leading cup competition back in 2014-15.

Τhrylos will begin their domestic campaign on August 23, so their full focus is on the Champions League, but they will need to put in a special performance to turn the tie around, as an own goal from Radosav Petrovic sent Bratislava on their way in the first leg, before Robert Mak added a second in the final exchanges.

The visitors also won their domestic title last season, triumphing in the Slovak First Football League for the 22nd time in their history, which saw them enter the Champions League in the first qualifying round.

Vladimir Weiss's side therefore started their European campaign on July 10, beating Strega 4-2 at home and 2-1 away in order to progress to the second qualifying round with an aggregate score of 6-3.

Bratislava were also comfortable in the last round, beating Celje 6-1 on aggregate, and as mentioned, they will bring a 2-0 advantage into the second leg of their third qualifying round clash with APOEL.

The Sky Blues are also two matches into their domestic season, recording two wins to sit at the top of the table, so the visitors will enter this game off the back of four straight victories in all competitions.

Bratislava have never qualified for the group stage of a Champions League, but they famously won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1969, beating Barcelona in the process, and the team have played in the group stage of the Europa League on three occasions.

APOEL Champions League form:

Slovan Bratislava Champions League form:

Slovan Bratislava form (all competitions):

Team News

APOEL head coach Gallego is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack for this match, and it would not be a shock to see the same XI take to the field from the first leg.

Youssef El-Arabi is perhaps the player pushing strongest to be introduced into the side, but Stefan Drazic is expected to again be given the nod as the centre-forward on Tuesday night.

Marquinhos is another certain starter for the home side, with the 27-year-old already scoring twice in three appearances in the qualification rounds of the Champions League this season.

As for Bratislava, the club have not reported any fitness concerns ahead of Tuesday's second leg.

Mak and David Strelec have both scored four times in six appearances at the start of the new season, and the former is set to be introduced into the side after coming off the bench in the first leg.

Tigran Barseghyan could be the player to miss out despite scoring twice this season, with Vladimir Weiss set to operate alongside Mak and Strelec in the final third of the field.

There will also be a notable inclusion at the back in the shape of 37-year-old Guram Kashia, who helped Georgia reach the last-16 stage of this summer's European Championship.

APOEL possible starting lineup:

Belec; Susic, Petrovic, Dvali, Quintilla; Meyer, Kostadinov, Tejera; Ndongala, Drazic, Marquinhos

Slovan Bratislava possible starting lineup:

Takac; Blackman, Kashia, Wimmer, Zubers; Kucka, Bajric, Polic; Weiss, Strelec, Mak

We say: APOEL 2-2 Slovan Bratislava (Slovan Bratislava win 4-2 on aggregate)

APOEL will have home advantage on Tuesday, which counts for a lot, but we are finding it very difficult to imagine this tie being turned around. Both teams have quality in the final third of the field, and we are expecting an entertaining draw, with Bratislava progressing to the playoff round of the Champions League.

Previews by email

Top News

1 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has ruled out a future career in coaching as he admitted he is unsure whether he will play in the 2026 World Cup. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly knocked back several offers from interested clubs for teenage starlet Claudio Echeverri. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk French off the back of reaching the Taca da Liga semi-finals, Benfica return to action in the Primeira Liga when they visit the Estadio de Sao Luis to face SC Farense on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly ready to part ways with Aurelien Tchouameni and could offer the midfielder as part of a deal to sign Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gil Vicente will be looking to make it five straight games without defeat on home turf this season when they play host to Boavista in round 10 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are one of five European giants who have been alerted by Jamal Musiala's contract situation at Bayern Munich. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vincent Kompany will be hoping that his Bayern Munich side can maintain their unbeaten record in the Bundesliga on Saturday when they host Union Berlin at the Allianz Arena. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt are set to host VfL Bochum on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in the Bundesliga. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nuri Sahin's side are in desperate need of a win, but they face a difficult task on Saturday given they welcome RB Leipzig to Signal Iduna Park in their ninth Bundesliga match of the season. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In their ninth Bundesliga game of the season, relegation threatened Wolfsburg are set to host Augsburg on Saturday at Volkswagen Arena. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who have turned a corner of late go head to head in round 11 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Fortuna Sittard welcome Heerenveen to the Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Sunday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest will endeavour to win their third consecutive Premier League game when they welcome West Ham United to the City Ground on Saturday afternoon. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In one of two high-profile matches round 11 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season has to offer, Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar will do battle at De Kuip on Saturday evening. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both gunning for promotion in their respective divisions, Walsall and Bolton Wanderers will turn their attentions to the FA Cup as they meet for a first-round tie at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have received a major injury boost regarding Manuel Akanji, according to a report. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk La Liga giants Barcelona are monitoring the situation of Rafael Leao at AC Milan, according to a report. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that Bournemouth 'should not abandon their principles' in Saturday's clash with the Premier League champions at the Vitality Stadium. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Holstein Kiel and Heidenheim meet at Holstein-Stadion in Saturday's gameweek nine match in a battle between a host in their first Bundesliga season and an opponent in their second-ever top-flight year. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has said that the Red Devils "can and have to perform better", as he prepares the team for Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruud van Nistelrooy has said that he is expecting to remain at Manchester United as an assistant manager once the club have finalised a deal for Erik ten Hag's long-term replacement. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to make it back-to-back wins in pursuit of the top six in the Championship table, Sheffield Wednesday and Watford will meet at Hillsborough on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to bounce back to winning ways in their fights at opposite ends of the Championship table, Leeds United and Plymouth Argyle will square off at Elland Road on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Securing consecutive wins for the first time since September will be the major objective for Heracles as they entertain the challenge of NAC Breda at the Asito Stadium on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly started to consider other options in the transfer market at left-back, due to the predicted wage demands of Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City manager Steve Cooper is expected to recall several of his first-team stars for Saturday's Premier League clash with Ipswich Town at Portman Road. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town could be without as many as 10 players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Leicester City at Portman Road. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by just three points in the top six of the Championship table, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United will meet in an important contest at Ewood Park on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Last season's top two in the Championship lock horns at Portman Road for a Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon when Ipswich Town play host to Leicester City. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In their first MLS playoff contest at Citi Field since 2022, New York City FC host FC Cincinnati needing a win on Saturday to stay alive in the quest for the cup. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Premier League have released the shortlist for October's Player of the Month award, with players from clubs up and down the table and all over the pitch included.