APOEL vs Fiorentina prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-11-06 20:00.
[p]APOEL’s slow start to the UEFA Conference League (D1, L1) continued with a 1-0 defeat to Borac Banja Luka on matchday two but they’ve since shown more steel by keeping two clean sheets in Cypriot league action (W1, D1). As they prepare to take on Fiorentina, the Nicosia-based club still await their first win against an Italian side with this being their fifth attempt (D2, L2).[/p]
[p]The two draws they managed did come at home, albeit back in the 1970s against Napoli and Torino, but there have been more recent highlights in Europe at the NEO GSP Stadium. They include beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in the UEFA Europa League in 2017 and Sevilla 1-0 two years later, but scaling those heights again seems unlikely given they’ve lost their last two Conference League home games.[/p]
[p]They also have their work cut out because Fiorentina, runners-up in the last two editions of this competition, have started the league phase strongly, winning both games by a two-goal margin. All six of their goals in those fixtures came after half-time but another slow start is unlikely to worry Raffaele Palladino’s side considering they’re now unbeaten in nine competitive matches (W8, D1).[/p]
[p]And they could be forgiven for feeling their way into proceedings as having never previously met a Cypriot club, they will play two in as many matchdays as they’ll be hosting Pafos in matchday four! They travel with a strong record, as excluding qualifiers, the Violets have only ever lost one Conference League away game as well as those two finals on neutral territory (W9, D4).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Stefan Dražić has netted after the 75th minute in two of APOEL’s last four games with both goals helping his side win ‘to nil’. In similar form for Fiorentina, Moise Kean has struck in two of their last three fixtures, on both occasions opening the scoring before half-time. He’s also contributed to nine goals this term (G8, A1), already his personal best for an Italian team in one season.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: APOEL haven’t conceded before half-time since 1st September (HT: W5, D6).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]