Last season, Slovan Bratislava secured their sixth consecutive title in Slovakia, earning them a spot in the Champions League qualifications. They dominated Struga in the first round with victories of 4-2 at home and 2-1 away.
Following a 1-1 draw with Celje, they triumphed in the return leg with a 5-0 win to advance to the third round. Domestically, Slovan started their league campaign with an impressive 4-1 victory at Komarno and will aim for another win against Podbrezova on Saturday.
APOEL Nicosia reclaimed the top position 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 and maintained their lead with a 1-1 draw in the return leg.
During the summer, APOEL recorded three draws in preparation matches against Novi Pazar (2-2), Radnicki (1-1), and AEK Larnaca (0-0).
Slovan Bratislava boasts key players like 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 scored twice in the current qualifiers.
Armenian striker Barseghyan (13 goals, 11 assists last season) and Slovak international Strelec (11 goals, 10 assists) are also 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 strong 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 Champions League performances have 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, indicating that APOEL could face a tough challenge in their debut game.
Prediction: Slovan Bratislava to win.
