UEFA Europa League APOEL Nicosia vs FC Astana
Athletikos Podosferikos Omilos Ellinon Lefkosias
The Cyprus Championship is still on the summer holiday and will begin next week. APOEL Nicosia will debut in the 2018-2019 season on August 25th, following a meeting on the stadium “Ammochostos” on Nea Salamis Famagusta. APOEL Nicosia won the 27th title in Cypriot First Division and the 6th consecutive title, being the most gallant Cypriot team in recent years.
The team coached by Portuguese Bruno Baltazar aimed to qualify in the Champions League groups, but surprisingly, was eliminated from the first round of FK Sūduva Marijampolė. APOEL lost in the 3-1 turn in Lithuania, and in return, he only won 1-0, so he got to the Europa League. Here, “Thrylos” eliminated in the second round FC Flora Tallinn, 5-0 home and 2-0 away, and in the third round Hapoel Be’er Sheva, 2-2 away and home 3-1.
“Yellow-blue” will play in the Europa League play-off for the fifth time with FC Astana, the stake being a place in the group. After losing the Champions League groups, it would be a great disappointment for the Cypriots to be eliminated from all of the European Cups and would basically have a missed season before they started. The hosts do not have injured or suspended players for the match with FC Astana, in which they aim to win, in order to have an easier return. The Brazilian striker Dellatorre will come back after a suspension stage.
Astana Football Club
FC Astana won 4 consecutive titles in Kazakhstan in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2018, FC Astana ranks first in the 22-stage ranking with 54 points, being in direct battle with Kairat Almaty 51 points. Occupation 3, Tobol Kostanay has 38 points and does not matter in the fight for the title. So FC Astana will fight Kairat Almaty to mark the 5th title.
The team coached by Roman Hryhorchuk played in the first round of the Montenegrin Champions League with FK Sutjeska Nikšić, who eliminated them without problems, 1-0 home and 2-0 away, then went into the second round of the Danish FC Midtjylland, 2-1 home and 0-0 away. Kazacii left the Champions League in the third round, being eliminated by Croatians from Dinamo Zagreb, 0-2 home and 0-1 away.
Football Prediction APOEL Nicosia vs FC Astana
“Yellow-Blue” played in the Champions League groups in the 2015-2016 season and in the Europa League in the seasons 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. Moreover, the last time passed the group stage, being eliminated in sixteen by Sporting Lisbon, 1-3 home and 3-3 away. FC Astana has become accustomed to the performance in recent years and will do its best to eliminate APOEL Nicosia in order not to get out of the European circuit. Guests do not have injured or suspended players for the match at the “GSP” stadium in Nicosia.
Bet Tip: APOEL Nicosia – FC Astana | 1X & under 3.5 goals
Odds: 1.60
