Conference League | League Stage

Dec 19, 2024 at 8pm UK

Neo GSP

APOELvs.Astana

Match preview

After picking up just one point from their opening two games, leaving them outside the play-off places with four games to play, APOEL have since turned their fortunes around in style.

The Nicosia club replaced former boss Jose Dominguez with Manuel Jimenez - their fourth manager in six months - and a revival in results has seen them qualify for the last 16.

Buoyed by a win over an in-form Fiorentina on Matchday 3, APOEL have won three in a row, most recently a 3-1 victory over FC Noah in Armenia.

With the game going into the 90th minute, late strikes from Georgi Kostadinov and David Abagna secured maximum points for the Greek giants, who are now level on points with four other teams, with only goal difference separating them from the all-important top eight.

However, Cyprus' most successful club have struggled to reach the heights of domestic football this term, sitting fifth in the First Division, 13 points adrift of Conference League rivals Pafos.

While their hosts are guaranteed at least a top-24 finish, Astana are just one point off the play-off places, meaning that even a win on the final day of the season will not guarantee their continued involvement.

The Kazakh club, who are competing in the Conference League for the second year in a row, recorded their only win in their opening match against Backa Topola in October and have since picked up just one more point.

Back-to-back defeats to The New Saints and APOEL's compatriots Pafos were followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Vitoria Guimaraes before Grigori Babayan's side welcomed Chelsea to chilly Almaty last week.

The Premier League giants raced into a three-goal lead before Marin Tomasov pulled a goal back late in the first half, and a goalless second period condemned Astana to another defeat.

Having completed their Kazakhstan Premier League campaign last month - finishing runners-up to new champions Kairat - the Yellow and Blues head into Thursday's game with a week's rest and preparation, while APOEL were in action on Sunday.

Recemt Performance

APOEL Conference League form:DLWWW

APOEL form (all competitions):LWLDWW

Astana Conference League form:WWLLDL

Astana form (all competitions):LLWWDL

Team News

Experience could be key for APOEL, who will be led in attack by veteran striker Youssef El-Arabi - who has scored 21 times in 68 UEFA competition appearances - and 34-year-old Bulgarian international Georgi Kostadinov in midfield.

Key defenders Mateo Susic and Konstantinos Laifis are also in their thirties, while well-travelled goalkeeper Vid Belec began his senior career with Inter Milan over 14 years ago.

Ghanaian midfielder David Abagna, who has scored in each of the hosts' last two matches - the first as a substitute against FC Noah - will be hoping to retain his place on Thursday.

APOEL beat Paralimni 2-0 at the weekend, but Grigori Babayan's Astana side are relatively well rested - last week's defeat to Chelsea was their only competitive game this month.

Belarus international Max Ebong is a key figure in the visitors' engine room, while top scorer Geoffrey Chinedu leads the line up front, supported by captain Marin Tomasov, who has scored 23 times in European competition.

Possible starting lineup

APOEL possible starting lineup:

Belec; Susic, Petrovic, Laifis, Quintilla; Kostadinov; Chebake, Abagna, Tejera, Donis; El Arabi

Astana possible starting lineup:

Seysen; Bartolec, Kazukolovas, Marochkin, Vorogovskiy; Amanovic, Ebong, Kalaica; Tomasov, Chinedu, Camara