Preview: Apollon Limassol vs. AZ Alkmaar - prediction, team news, lineups

On the other hand, the away side make the trip to Tsirion Stadium aiming to preserve their perfect group-stage record and pick up a fourth straight continental win.

Match preview

AZ Alkmaar made it five consecutive victories across all competitions courtesy of a 2-1 win over FC Utrecht at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday.

Pascal Jansen's men took the lead through Myron van Brederode just past the half-hour mark before Yukinari Sugawara made it two midway through the second period after which Moussa Sylla grabbed a late consolation strike.

The Cheeseheads remain top of the Eredivisie standings after the first nine matches which is in keeping with their Conference League form as they also sit top of Group E with nine points from a possible nine.

Currently on a run of seven straight wins away from home, Thursday's visitors have been in flying form on the road since losing 1-0 to Dundee United on August 4.

Separated from a place in the knockout stages of their European adventure by just three points, AZ will be keen to get the job done ahead of a high-profile league clash against Feyenoord this weekend.

Apollon Limassol ended a four-game winless streak with a narrow 1-0 victory over Anorthosis at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium on Monday.

David Catala's men broke the deadlock in the 69th minute thanks to Ioannis Pittas and that was enough to get the job done in a fairly even contest.

Consequently, The Blue-whites have moved up to second place in the Cyprus first division table, level on points with league leaders Paphos.

Now in the last-chance saloon to preserve their European ambitions, Thursday's hosts now go in search of a much-needed victory in front of their fans where they have lost just one of seven matches this term.

Apollon Limassol Europa Conference League form:

D

L

L

Apollon Limassol form (all competitions):

W

D

L

D

L

L

AZ Alkmaar Europa Conference League form:

W

W

W

W

W

W

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

W

W

Team News

Vangelis Pavlidis is unavailable for AZ Alkmaar here due to a leg injury which has seen him fail to feature since the final week of August.

The away side are also set to be without Norway international Hakon Evjen who is set to miss a sixth match on the bounce with an ankle problem.

Having briefly returned from a muscle injury, Bruno Martins Indi suffered a fresh setback against Ajax and the defender is also ruled out.

Apollon's Bagaliy Dabo was fit enough to be named on the bench last time out but it remains to be seen whether the 34-year-old will play any part in this one.

Ioannis Pittas has been directly involved in two of his side's three Conference League goals so far and he will be looking to deliver the goods once again.

Apollon Limassol possible starting lineup:

Jovanovic; Khammas, Jovanovic, Artymatas, Cabral; Spoljaric, Kyriakou; Pittas, Shahar, Joosten; Henty

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Verhulst; Chatzidiakos, Beukema, Dekker, Kerkez; Reijnders, De Wit, Clasie; Sugawara, Odgaard, Van Brederode

We say: Apollon Limassol 1-3 AZ Alkmaar

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