Vying for automatic entry to the Conference League‘s last 16, APOEL will host playoff hopefuls Astana on Thursday evening.

In an 18-game grand finale for this season’s league phase, the Cypriot side are contenders for the top eight, but their Kazakh counterparts could yet be eliminated.

Match preview

© Imago

After picking up just one point from their first two fixtures, leaving them stranded outside the playoff places with four games to go, APOEL have since turned their fortunes around in some style.

The Nicosia club replaced former boss Jose Dominguez with current coach Manuel Jimenez – their fourth manager in six months – and following an upswing in results they could now go straight through to the last 16.

Springboarded by beating in-form Fiorentina on the third matchday, APOEL have gone on to post three straight wins, most recently defeating FC Noah 3-1 in Armenia.

With the game finely poised heading towards the 90th minute, late strikes from Georgi Kostadinov and David Abagna secured maximum points, moving them level with four other teams – only goal difference separates them from the all-important top eight.

However, the most successful club in Cyprus are failing to hit the heights in domestic football this term, as they occupy fifth place in the First Division, some 13 points adrift of fellow Conference League contenders Pafos.

© Imago

While their hosts are at least guaranteed a top-24 finish, Astana sit one point shy of the playoff places, so even victory on the final matchday will not ensure their continued involvement.

Taking part in the Conference League for a second successive year, the Kazakh club’s sole win so far came from their opening fixture, against Backa Topola in October, and they have since added just one more point to their tally.

Back-to-back defeats against 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 high-flyers raced into a three-goal lead, before the hosts’ skipper Marin Tomasov pulled one back late in the first half, and a goalless second period then consigned Astana to another defeat.

Having completed their Kazakhstan Premier League campaign last month – finishing runners-up to new national champions Kairat – the Yellow-and-Blues will come into Thursday’s game after a week of rest and preparation, while APOEL were in action on Sunday.

APOEL Conference League form:

APOEL form (all competitions):

Astana Conference League form:

Astana form (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago

Experience could hold the key for APOEL, as their attack should be led by veteran striker Youssef El-Arabi – who has scored 21 times in 68 UEFA competition appearances – and 34-year-old Bulgaria international Georgi Kostadinov is set to run operations in midfield.

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

Having scored in both of the hosts’ last two matches – the first as a substitute against FC Noah – Ghanaian midfielder David Abagna will expect to keep 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 loss to Chelsea has been their only competitive fixture 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.

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

We say: APOEL 2-0 Astana

APOEL have proven tough to score against in this season’s Conference League, while Astana are far from prolific.

As a result, the home side should wrap up maximum points and potentially snatch a top-eight finish; their visitors are heading out.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Previews by email