Slovan Bratislava vs APOEL Prediction: 7/8/2024

Last season, Slovan Bratislava clinched their sixth consecutive title in Slovakia, securing their spot in the Champions League qualifications. They easily defeated Struga in the first round with two victories, winning 4-2 at home and 2-1 away. They then drew 1-1 with Celje before dominating the return leg with a 5-0 victory to advance to the third round. In their domestic league, Slovan started with an impressive 4-1 win at Komarno and will aim for another victory against Podbrezova on Saturday.

APOEL Nicosia, on the other hand, reclaimed the top spot in Cypriot football by winning their 29th national title last season. They began their Champions League qualification campaign with a 1-0 home win against Petrocub, maintaining their advantage with a 1-1 draw in the return leg. Over the summer, APOEL recorded three draws in their preparation matches against Novi Pazar (2-2), Radnicki (1-1), and AEK Larnaca (0-0).

Slovan Bratislava boasts several key players, including Weiss Jr (2 goals, 3 assists last season) and midfielder Kucka (formerly of Genoa, Milan, and Parma, with 3 goals and 4 assists last season), both of whom have already scored twice in the current qualifiers. Armenian striker Barseghyan (13 goals, 11 assists last season) and Slovak international Strelec (11 goals, 10 assists) have also been in form, with Strelec scoring three goals in the previous round. Other notable players include Marcelli (19 years old, 10 goals last season) and Tolic (9 goals). However, defender Dvali, who returned injured from the Euro, is expected to miss the trip to Slovakia.

For APOEL, Brazilian forward Marquinhos, the team’s top scorer last season with 10 goals, is expected to start, having scored both goals in the last round. Midfielder Ndongala (7 goals last season) and Chebake (6 goals) are also contenders for the starting eleven. However, the club saw the departure of Villafanez (4 goals) and Georgian international Kvilitaia (8 goals) during the transfer window.

 

Prediction

APOEL Nicosia’s recent performance in the Champions League has been underwhelming, with only one point from their last seven matches. In contrast, Slovan Bratislava has won eight of their last 12 home fixtures at this level, suggesting that APOEL could face a tough challenge in their debut game.

Prediction: Slovan Bratislava to win.