Apollon Limassol take on Premier League side Everton in the Europa League next week, with both sides having nothing more than pride to play for when they take to the field in Cyprus. The two teams are both winless in Group D, with the away side having been particularly disappointing throughout the season. Taking this into account, many are predicting a close encounter at the Tsirio Stadium.
Europa League – Tsirio Stadium, Limassol – Thursday 7th December – 18:00 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 5/2 at Unibet |
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Apollon Limassol
EvertonMatch Preview
Cypriot side Apollon Limassol host Everton in the Europa League next week, with both sides looking to give their fans something to cheer about after disappointing campaigns. With the pressure mounting on the Premier League side after a shocking start to the season, another defeat in Europe would certainly not be good news for the away side. With Apollon having already claimed a point against Everton at Goodison Park earlier on in the season, another close encounter is certainly in the offing. For those still unsure of who to back in Cyprus next week, be sure to check out our top betting tip below. However, let’s first take a closer look at the two teams, starting with the home side.
Apollon Limassol Team News & Form
Apollon Limassol come into this match off the back of a 3-0 win over Ethnikos Achna in Cyprus over the weekend, leaving them fourth in the top-flight standings, seven points behind the league leaders. In Europe, the home side have claimed three draws from their five matches, as well as suffering defeat twice. A 4-0 defeat against Lyon last week means that Apollon have now conceded 11 goals in their Group E meetings so far, having scored just five in the process. Midfielder Allan is likely to have extra motivation to perform well next week, with the Brazilian being on-loan from Everton’s fierce rivals Liverpool.
Everton Team News & Form
Everton come into their clash with Apollon off the back of a disappointing Premier League defeat against Southampton, leaving them 16th in the standings. Former England boss Sam Allardyce is rumoured to be set to take over as manager at Goodison Park, with Everton having failed to win a single match in the Europa League this season. The likes of Wayne Rooney, Cuco Martina and Davy Klaasen are likely to feature for the visitors, with the trio having not earned a large amount of game time over recent weeks.
Head to Head
The 2-2 draw between the two sides earlier on in the season at Goodison Park was the first ever competitive meeting between the two clubs, meaning that few conclusions can be made surrounding their head-to-head record.
Betting Odds and Predictions
Their status as the home team next week means that it is Apollon Limassol who are the firm favourites for victory with the bookmakers. The home side can be backed at odds of 2 with Skybet, while those looking to bet on an away win for Everton can get odds of 11/8 with PaddyPower.
Top Betting Tip
However, our top betting tip for the match is to bet on both teams scoring during the 90 minutes in Cyprus, with best odds of 4/6 available at Ladbrokes.