Dnipro-1 vs Apollon prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-26 19:00.
Ukraine meets Cyprus as Dnipro-1 welcome Apollon in the penultimate round of UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) Group E. After tasting defeat at their temporary UECL home in the Slovakian city of Košice to leaders AZ Alkmaar on matchday one, the UEFA group stage debutants have excelled in the tournament proper (W2, D1) and know that avoiding defeat here will mean they are guaranteed a top-two finish.
They’d prefer a victory that keeps them in the hunt for a first-place finish of course, particularly with a crunch contest against Alkmaar looming on matchday six. Second-place progression would also mean an extra game in the form of a knockout round play-off, which could damage Dnipro-1’s narrow three-point lead at the summit of the Ukrainian Premier League, having also played a game more than chasers Shakhtar Donetsk.
Embarking on their tenth-consecutive European campaign, Apollon are currently in third-place and three points off their opponents. Due to their 3-1 loss in the reverse H2H, only victory will do if they’re to keep dreams alive of a first-ever UEFA knockouts appearance, but it won’t be plain sailing as they’ve won just once in their last five away games (D3, L1), and were held to a 1-1 draw by Olympiakos Nicosia in domestic action last Friday.
They’ll be boosted by a 1-0 defeat of group leaders Alkmaar on their last UECL outing, though this was only Apollon’s second win in their last 11 European attempts (D4, L5). There’s little reason for positivity when looking at their travelling form in UEFA group stage football either, as they have lost ten of their last 14 such contests (W2, D2), so all hands will need to be on deck if they are to secure a crucial victory here!
Players to watch: Dnipro-1 forward Artem Dovbyk is the competition’s joint-top goalscorer coming into this contest (G4) and struck a stoppage-time winner against Vaduz in their last UECL contest (2-1), whilst Apollon’s Ioannis Pittas will want to make his mark on the road once more, having struck in consecutive away games for the visitors.
Hot streak: Dnipro-1 are unbeaten when scoring first this term (W3, D2).