Celje vs APOEL prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-02-12 17:45.
[p]December 19 was a momentous day for Slovenian football as Olimpija Ljubljana and Celje became the first two clubs from their country to progress beyond the group/league phase in the UEFA Conference League. But as one of seven sides to advance despite winning just two of their six matches (D1, L3), Celje are among the rank outsiders to go far in this tournament as they venture into uncharted waters. [/p]
[p]Celje will face APOEL in the knockout round play-offs having already lost once to Cypriot opposition this term, going down 2-0 away to Pafos, but the Slovenian club are unbeaten in nine consecutive UEFA home fixtures (W6, D3). They were knocked out of Champions and Europa League qualifying earlier this season despite positive home leg results (W1, D1), so they won’t be taking any result for granted here. [/p]
[p]APOEL as a club are more experienced campaigners when it comes to reaching the knockout phase of UEFA competition, though it has been five years since their last such sojourn. Winning just one of their last five domestic games (D2, L2) leaves them in less-than-ideal shape for this contest however, and at risk of missing the Championship round of the Cypriot top-flight for the first time since 2020/21.[/p]
[p]Only goal difference separated them from the league phase’s top eight in the Conference League, with their defence the joint-strongest in the competition during that period, conceding just five times. APOEL also took at least one point from all three of their away matches in progressing to this stage (W2, D1), including a 1-0 win at Molde as underdogs, so their form in continental competition on the road has certainly been encouraging..[/p]
[p]Players to watch: New signing Logan Delaurier-Chaubet is an exciting prospect for Celje’s knockout-phase campaign after scoring and assisting on his club debut earlier this month. David Abagna has a record of W4, D1 when finding the net this season, including two Conference League victories.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: APOEL opened the scoring in five of their six league phase games, while Celje did so only twice. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]