APOEL vs Astana prediction, H2H & Probable Line-ups – December 19, 2024
One of the sixth-round group stage matches of the UEFA Europa Conference League will be played on Thursday at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, where APOEL will host Astana. We suggest a handicap bet in this match with good chances of success.
Match preview
APOEL continues their successful run in the UEFA Europa Conference League, extending their winning streak to three matches after a convincing 3:1 home win over Noah in the fifth round. This result lifted the Cypriot club to 10th place in the standings, trailing the top-8 only on goal difference.
Manolo Jiménez's team has displayed solid defensive play, conceding just four goals in five matches — one of the best records in the tournament. At home, they are particularly formidable, winning six of their last eight Conference League home games. Over the weekend, APOEL secured a 2:0 home league win over Enosis. However, after 14 rounds, they sit only in fifth place in the domestic league.
Grigory Babayan’s side has faced difficulties in the current Europa Conference League campaign. In the previous round, they lost 1:3 to tournament leaders Chelsea, extending their winless streak to four games (one draw, three losses). Their only win so far came against Bačka Topola, marking the team’s best performance to date.
Currently, Astana occupies 28th place in the standings, though they are just one point away from a playoff spot, keeping their chances alive. Their attacking performance remains a weak point, scoring only three goals in five matches — one of the worst records in the tournament. Notably, Astana finished second in the recently concluded Kazakhstan Premier League.
Probable lineups
- APOEL: Belec - Susic, Laifis, Petrovic, Shebak - Tejera, Abania, Marquinhos, Maier, Ndongala - El-Arabi
- Astana: Chondrich, Amanovic, Marochkin, Kazukolovas, Vorogovsky, Gripsi, Ebong, Bartolec, Camara, Joffrey, Tomasov
Match facts and head-to-head record
- APOEL won three of the last four encounters, while Astana claimed one victory.
- The "Total Over 2.5" bet hit in only two of the last five games.
- The "Both Teams to Score" bet succeeded in three of the last five meetings.
Prediction
Bookmakers clearly favor the home side, pricing APOEL’s win at 1.42. We recommend the bet "APOEL to Win with a -1.0 Handicap" at odds of 1.65.
