Prediction: Slovan Bratislava vs APOEL

Prediction: Slovan Bratislava to win 2-1

Best Odds: 73/10

Bookmaker: Zetbet

Slovan Bratislava and APOEL will lock horns in the UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round this week. The first leg of the tie between the Niké liga club in Slovakia and the First Division team in Cyrus will be held at Tehelné pole and is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 pm UK time on Wednesday.

Slovan Bratislava

Slovan Bratislava are one of the biggest clubs in Slovakia and have a massive following. Founded in 1919, the Sky Blues won the Slovak Super Liga as many as 22 times and the Sloval Cup on 17 occasions. The White Hawks from Brickfield became the first and so far only club in Slovakia as well as former Czechoslovakia to win one of the European cup competitions, the Cup Winners’ Cup when they defeated FC Barcelona in the final in Basel in 1969.

Vladimír Weiss’s side won the 2023–24 Slovak First Football League title last season with 73 points from 32 matches and finished as many as 15 points clear of second-placed DAC Dunajská Streda. Slovan are now at the top of the league table with six points from two games.

Slovan Bratislava will head into the UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round first leg against APOEL at Tehelné pole on the back of a 1-0 victory over Podbrezova at home in the Slovak Super Liga. It followed a 5-0 win against Celje at home in the UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign which came after a 4-1 victory over Komarno on the road in the league.

Team News:

Slovan Bratislava are likely to line up in a 3-4-3 formation. Takac will be in goal for the Slovak Super Liga club and will have Bajric, Kashia and Wimmer in front of him in defence. Blackman, Kucka, Savvidis and Zuberu will be the four midfielders. Mak, Strelec and Weiss will be deployed as the three forwards.

APOEL FC

APOEL are one of the biggest clubs in Cyprus and have been hugely successful. They have won the national championship in Cyprus as many as 29 times. APOEL have also clinched the Cup 21 times and the Super Cup on 13 occasions.

The Legend finished second in the 2022–23 Cypriot First Division campaign. APOEL ended last season with 71 points from 36 matches, three points behind eventual winners Aris Limassol.

APOEL will head into the UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round first leg against Slovan Bratislava at Tehelné pole on the back of a 1-1 draw with Petrocub away from home in the second leg of the second qualifying round which followed a 1-0 win against the same team in front of their fans in the first leg of the tie.

Team News:

APOEL are likely to line up in a 4-5-1 formation. Belec will be in goal for the Cypriot First Division club and will have Susic, Petrovic, Dvali and Quintilla in front of him in defence. Marquinhos, Ndongala, Tejera, Kostadinov and Sarfo will be the five midfielders. Drazic will lead the line for APOEL.

Key Factors to Consider

• Slovan Bratislava have won 3 of their last 4 UEFA Champions League qualifying games.
• Slovan Bratislava have won 5 of their last 6 matches in all competitions.
• Slovan Bratislava have drawn 1 of their last 6 matches in all competitions.
• APOEL have won 1 of their last 2 UEFA Champions League qualifying games.
• APOEL have drawn 1 of their 2 UEFA Champions League qualifying games.

Conclusion

Slovan Bratislava and APOEL have good teams and will fancy their chances of progressing to the next round of the UEFA Champions League qualifying round. The tie is not going to be decided in the first leg, but the team that win it will have a massive advantage. Playing at home should give Slovan the edge this week.

Prediction: Slovan Bratislava to win 2-1

Best Odds: 73/10

Bookmaker: Zetbet