H2H: APOEL Nicosia vs. Qarabag – Prediction (Europa League

Preview and Teams Comparison.

The home side has never won in three previous meetings between APOEL Nicosia and FK Qarabag (D1 L2).

A 2-2 draw with Qarabağ in the reverse fixture extended APOEL’s winless run in Europe to five games (D2, L3), although the last team they did beat in continental competition was Qarabağ in Champions League qualifying earlier this season. That 2-0 win over the Azerbaijanis was APOEL’s 14th win ‘to nil’ from their last 15 European victories. Andrija Pavlović netted a second-half brace in APOEL’s last UEL home match – his previous five competitive goals came after half-time. The 28-time Cypriot champions enter this match having won 50% of their previous UEFA Europa League (UEL) group stage home matches (W5, D1, L4), however whilst they’ve kept a clean sheet in all three domestic home fixtures this term (W2, D1), they’ve conceded an average of 2.0 goals per match across their last three European home games.

APOEL’s group stage fixtures have averaged 4.0 total goals per game. Qarabağ have won four of their previous 13 UEL group stage away games (D1, L8). Six of Qarabağ’s last nine UEL away defeats came via a one-goal margin.

Qarabağ travel here unbeaten in their last eight competitive fixtures (W5, D3), with all of their wins bar one across that period arriving by at least a two-goal margin. With an average of 4.0 total goals per UEL group stage match so far, they’ve been entertaining to watch, and their last five games in this competition have seen over 2.5 goals. Magaye Gueye has scored in two of Qarabağ’s last three European away games – including the last H2H held here. Two of the three H2Hs played this year also saw over 2.5 goals, although notably, three of Qarabağ’s four goals across those games arrived after half-time. Having said that, both teams have scored in the first half in two of Qarabağ’s last four competitive matches.