APOEL vs. Slovan Bratislava Prediction: APOEL 2-2 Slovan Bratislava (Slovan advances 4-2 on aggregate) – Home side fights hard but visitors’ quality and first-leg advantage see them through in exciting Champions League qualifier.
APOEL Nicosia will host Slovan Bratislava in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie on Tuesday evening. The Cypriot champions have a mountain to climb after suffering a 2-0 defeat in the first leg in Slovakia last week.
Match Preview
APOEL enter this crucial home fixture knowing they need to overturn a two-goal deficit to keep their Champions League dreams alive. The task is daunting, but not impossible for David Gallego’s men in front of their passionate home support at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia.
Slovan Bratislava, on the other hand, arrive in Cyprus with a comfortable advantage after their dominant display in the first leg. Vladimir Weiss’ side will be confident of seeing out the tie and progressing to the playoff round.
Predicted APOEL vs. Slovan Bratislava Lineups and Formation
APOEL Lineup (4-3-3): Petrovic, Drazic, Tejera, Kostadinov, Quintilla, Belec, Meyer, Susic, Marquinhos, Ndongala, Dvali.
Slovan Bratislava Lineup (4-3-3): Weiss, Zubers, Polic, Strelec, Blackman, Bajric, Wimmer, Kucka, Mak, Kashia, Takac.
Both teams are expected to stick with the 4-3-3 formations that have served them well so far in the competition. APOEL may opt for a more attacking setup given their need to score, while Slovan could adopt a slightly more conservative approach to protect their lead.
Key Players to Watch
For APOEL, Marquinhos will be crucial in attack. The Brazilian forward has already netted twice in Champions League qualifying this season and will need to be at his best if the Cypriots are to mount a comeback.
Slovan’s danger man is likely to be Robert Mak. The experienced Slovakian international scored in the first leg and has been in fine form, finding the net four times in six appearances so far this season.
Injury Updates
APOEL have no major injury concerns reported ahead of this crucial fixture. The home side will need all hands on deck for their attempted comeback.
Slovan Bratislava also appear to have a clean bill of health, with no fitness issues mentioned in the build-up to the match.
Where to Watch
The match kicks off at 6:00 PM local time (5:00 PM BST) on Tuesday, August 13th.
APOEL vs. Slovan Bratislava Live Streaming and TV Schedule
While specific TV broadcast information is limited, here are some channels that may be broadcasting the match in various countries:
- Cyprus: Cablenet Sports 1
- Slovakia: RTVS
For other countries, the match may be available on streaming platforms depending on your location. It’s advisable to check local listings for the most up-to-date information.
Who Will Win?
Given Slovan Bratislava’s two-goal advantage and strong recent form, they enter the match as favorites to progress. However, APOEL’s home advantage and desperate need for goals could make for an intriguing contest.
APOEL vs. Slovan Bratislava Prediction: APOEL 2-2 Slovan Bratislava (Slovan win 4-2 on aggregate)
While APOEL may push hard for the win, Slovan’s quality and first-leg cushion should be enough to see them through to the next round.
Recent Form
APOEL’s last 5 matches:
- Lost 2-0 vs Slovan Bratislava (Champions League)
- Drew 1-1 vs Petrocub (Champions League)
- Won 1-0 vs Petrocub (Champions League)
- Drew 0-0 vs AEK (Friendly)
- Drew 1-1 vs Radnički 1923 (Friendly)
Slovan Bratislava’s last 5 matches:
- Won 2-0 vs APOEL (Champions League)
- Won 1-0 vs Podbrezová (Niké Liga)
- Won 5-0 vs Celje (Champions League)
- Won 4-1 vs Komárno (Niké Liga)
- Drew 1-1 vs Celje (Champions League)
Head-to-Head
The two sides have met only once before, which was the first leg of this tie that Slovan won 2-0. Their only other encounter dates back to 2011, when they played out two draws in Champions League qualifying.
Standings
As this is a qualifying round, there are no relevant league standings to report. However, it’s worth noting that both teams won their respective domestic leagues last season to reach this stage of Champions League qualification.
Latest News
APOEL will be desperate to overturn the deficit and reach the playoff round, which would put them one step closer to the lucrative Champions League group stage. The Cypriot side has a history of punching above their weight in European competition, famously reaching the quarter-finals in 2011-12.
Slovan Bratislava, meanwhile, are aiming to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time in their history. The Slovakian champions have been in impressive form lately, and will be keen to build on their strong first-leg performance.
This match promises to be a tense and potentially thrilling encounter, with APOEL needing to push forward in search of goals while being wary of Slovan’s counter-attacking threat. Football fans can expect an exciting night of European action in Nicosia.
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