APOEL will welcome Celje to the GSP Stadium on Thursday night for the second leg of their knockout playoff round tie, with a spot in the Conference League's last 16 at stake.
The hosts twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Slovenia, leaving everything to play for in the second leg in Cyprus.
Match preview
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APOEL have had a largely frustrating 2024-25 campaign so far, especially in the Cypriot First Division, where they sit fifth in the table - a particularly disappointing position given they were crowned champions last season.
Their early-season struggles led to brief managerial stints for both David Gallego and Jose Dominguez, but the club have since found stability under Manolo Jimenez, who has been at the helm since October 2024.
Jimenez has lost only five of his first 25 matches in charge of APOEL, alongside 12 wins and eight draws, including leading the side to the knockout rounds of the Conference League.
APOEL narrowly missed out on a top eight finish, placing 11th and only behind eighth-placed Cercle Brugge on goal difference, consigning them to competing in the knockout playoff round.
The Cypriot side were drawn against Celje, and APOEL twice had to battle from behind as they eventually secured a 2-2 draw in the first leg, maintaining their unbeaten record away from home in the competition this term.
Now heading into the second leg, APOEL will look to make use of their home advantage, though their European home form has been inconsistent, with only one win, one draw and one loss in their three league phase home matches.
Their visitors, Celje, have had a similarly underwhelming 2024-25 season, particularly in the Slovenian PrvaLiga, where they have fallen from a title victory last term to also sitting fifth this time around.
Despite lifting the title under the guidance of Damir Krznar, Celje opted to reappoint former manager Albert Riera, but that decision has so far failed to pay off.
Riera has, however, managed to lead Celje to the knockout rounds of a European competition for the first time in their history, having finished 21st in the league phase table with seven points.
Celje owe their progression to their fantastic home record, securing two wins and one draw from their three league phase matches as they remained unbeaten at home, a record they extended with the 2-2 draw in the first leg against APOEL.
They are, though, one of the worst performing sides away from home in the competition, failing to win any of their three away league phase fixtures, leaving them requiring an improvement on their travels if they are to advance into the last 16 with a win on Thursday.
Team News
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Youssef El Arabi, APOEL's top scorer in the league with 10 goals in 18 appearances, is expected to start on Thursday and will be looking for his first goal in the Conference League this season.
The hosts will be without Lasha Dvali in the heart of their defence, after the central defender was dismissed due to accumulating two yellow cards in the first leg, meaning Konstantinos Laifis could partner Evagoras Antoniou.
Anastasios Donis is also unlikely to feature after coming off in the first leg due to injury, meaning Ivan Alejo could start in his place on the left wing.
Armandas Kucys, Celje's top scorer with 13 goals in 23 appearances across all competitions, including two in the first leg, is expected to keep his place up front for the second leg.
Elsewhere, Riera may choose to field a largely unchanged side from the first leg, where they controlled much of the play against APOEL, aiming for a similar performance in the second leg.
APOEL possible starting lineup:
Belec; Susic, Laifis, Antoniou, Quintilla; Galanopoulos, Tejera; Chebake, Abagna, Alejo; El Arabi
Celje possible starting lineup:
Silva; Nieto, Bejger, Nemanic, Karnicnik; Delaurier-Chaubet, Seslar, Zabukovnik, Kvesic, Svetlin; Kucys
We say: APOEL 2-1 Celje
While the hosts have struggled at home in Europe this term, Celje have lost all three of their away matches in the Conference League, and we expect that to continue with a victory for APOEL.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
