by Get Real! » Fri Aug 24, 2018 2:52 pm
2018–19 UEFA Europa League, Play-off round, 30 Aug
1. AEK Larnaca vs AS Trencin
AEK should've taken the win last week for they had the most and better chances to score so Trencin are very lucky and no doubt satisfied with the final 1-1 result.
Having watched a Trencin with not much going forward and hardly a threat to the AEK defense, it's not too hard to predict how the 2nd leg at the AEK Arena will unfold.
In Cyprus the fate of AS Trencin should not be too different to that of Dundalk or Sturm Graz.
Predictions: Home team to win to NIL, Home team to score at least 2 goals, Home team to qualify to GS
2. Apollon Limassol vs FC Basel
As I suspected last week, FC Basel did indeed wake up and played good football to get the win thanks to a late own goal.
It suddenly began pouring with rain and from a corner kick the ball came off an Apollon player's back and straight into the net making it 3-2 for Basel and saving them from another calamity.
Basel now has a lucky one-goal advantage to take to the away match however, in Cyprus Apollon is a different animal that makes very few mistakes and is very clinical.
After the 3-2, even a 1-0 win for Apollon is enough to eliminate Basel although a higher goal difference is expected.
Predictions: Home team to win, Away team to score, Home team to qualify to GS, Correct score 3-1 or 4-1.
3. Astana vs APOEL Nicosia
This season's APOEL has failed to convince once again that they are Group Stage material with a tiny 1-0 win over their eager Kazakh opponent.
APOEL's scout manager has recently parted ways with the club which is another indicator that recent signings have not lived up to expectations.
With pretty much the same side APOEL is now expected to travel abroad and pull off a miracle, but a proven bad traveler can do very little to stop the confidence and enthusiasm of the hosts who more than proved themselves in Cyprus.
Predictions: Home team to win to NIL, Correct score 2-0, Home team to qualify to GS