The Cypriot champion has played only the Champions League qualifiers and for the time being it passed two obstacles but they struggled in the third round. Ajax entered the fray in the same round and they eliminated PAOK from Greece. Cypriot championship hasn’t started yet, while in first three rounds of the Dutch Eredivisie Ajax won two and drew one match. When the two teams met in the Champions League 2014 they drew in Nicosia 1-1.
The Cypriot champion has already played four competitive matches this season and has passed two obstacles in the Champions League qualifications. They had no problems with Sutjeska from Niksic in the second round, and after a minimum away victory of 1-0 they verified a place for themselves in the third round by victory of 3-0 at home. In the third qualifying round they met stronger opponent and after a dram they elimianted Qarabag, which won the first match in Nicosia by 2-1. APOEL was losing 2-0 and then they scored a goal in the injury time which turned to be very important as they defeated Qarabag away 2-0 and passed the round. Interestingly, after the home defeat they replaced manager Tramezzani with Thomas Doll, who has managed to shake the team.
Probable lineups APOEL: Belec – Merkis, Ioannou, Lafrance – Al-Taamari, Matic, Gentsoglou, Mihajlovic – Bezjak, De Vincenti – Pavlovic
Ajax reached the third qualifying round after elimination of Greek champion PAOK, and it wasn't easy. They expected that very few problems but there were plenty of them in the 1st leg when they had a lead and then were trailing behind, while in the end the match ended as 2-2 draw. PAOK took a lead in the rematch and it was already sign for alarm and Ajay trailed behind for full 20 minutes, until the end of the first half. In the second they turned the result up-side down and came to 3-1 and calmly brought the match to the end, although the result read at the end 3-2. Mazraoui got injured and he won’t play, so Veltman is going to cover the right flank.
Probable lineups Ajax Amsterdam: Onana – Veltman, Schuurs, Martinez, Tagliafico – Blind, Marin – Ziyech, van de Beek, Neres – Tadic
Ajax plays offensively at the beginning of new season and that is play style of this team who in turn receive plenty of goals but they score even more. APOEL will try to fight back at least at home and we expect an efficient match in Nicosia.
Pick: over 2.5 goals 1.70 - 70/100 @1XBet