In the second leg of the Champions League's second qualifying round, Moldovan champions Petrocub Hincesti are set to host APOEL Nicosia at Stadionul Orasenesc on Tuesday.
The home side must overturn the deficit from last week's first leg, when they lost 1-0 on July 23 against Cyprus' top-flight champions at the Neo GSP.
Match preview
![APOEL FC coach David Gallego when he was Real Sporting coach, seen during the La Liga Smartbank 2021/2022 match between Malaga CF and Real Sporting at La Rosaleda Stadium in Malaga. Malaga Spain - 01/9/2022, [on July 28, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/david-gallego.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "APOEL FC coach David Gallego when he was Real Sporting coach, seen during the La Liga Smartbank 2021/2022 match between Malaga CF and Real Sporting at La Rosaleda Stadium in Malaga. Malaga Spain - 01/9/2022, [on July 28, 2024]")
© Imago
The hosts were defeated last week because of a 37th minute penalty, which was awarded to APOEL after Ion Bors was punished by referee Robert Schroder for an infringement in the penalty area.
Petrocub were rather ill disciplined in that match considering six of their starting XI picked up yellow cards while just one APOEL starter was booked.
However, despite their loss they still had 53% possession, generated eight shots and five of their efforts were on target.
Also, considering last week was only the club's third ever match in the Champions League, their showing was far from disappointing.
Manager Andrei Martin will take confidence in the fact that his side have won their last 13 home matches and scored 59 goals in this period.
![Mateo Susic in APOEL FC's friendly match against FK Radnicki Kragujevac - 09/07/2024 [on July 28, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/mateo-susic.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Mateo Susic in APOEL FC's friendly match against FK Radnicki Kragujevac - 09/07/2024 [on July 28, 2024]")
© Imago
APOEL's win in the first leg was achieved thanks to their penalty being converted by winger Marquinhos.
Although Τhrylos emerged as winners they only had four shots in the entire game, and excluding the penalty, just one attempt on target.
APOEL have not reached the group stage of the Champions League since the 2017-18 season, when they finished last place in a group with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur.
They did reach the round of 32 in the Europa League in 2019-20, but they have not qualified to the group stage of any European competition in the last three seasons.
Last term, APOEL won the top-flight title after finishing first in their championship playoff group with an overall record of 73 points from 36 games.
Despite their victory last week, manager David Gallego Rodriguez will be wary of Tuesday's opponents considering his side's away form has been mixed in the last 10 matches, in which they have won four, drawn four and lost two.
Team News
![Max Meyer of FC Apoel Nicosia during a training camp - 09/07/2024 [on July 28, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/max-meyer.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Max Meyer of FC Apoel Nicosia during a training camp - 09/07/2024 [on July 28, 2024]")
© Imago
Given that Petrocub had twice the shots and more than two times as many attempts on target as their opponents last week, it would be a surprise if boss Martin made many changes to the starting XI.
Expect goalkeeper Silviu Smalenea to be shielded by centre-backs Ion Bors, Victor Mudrac and Donalio Melachio Douanla, while young striker Mihai Lupan could be an option up front.
As for APOEL, goalkeeper Vid Belec captained the side last time out and is sure to start behind centre-backs Radosav Petrovic and Cipriano.
Elsewhere, forward Kingsley Sarfo was substituted in the second half for Anastasios Donis, and he will be pushing for a start.
Petrocub Hincesti possible starting lineup:
Smalenea; Bors, Mudrac, Douanla; Jardan, Lungu, Abagna, S Platica; Ambros, M Platica, Puscas
APOEL possible starting lineup:
Belic; Susic, Petrovic, Cipriano, Quintilla; Ndongala, Tejera, Kostadinov; Donis, Drazic, Marquinhos
We say: Petrocub Hincesti 1-1 APOEL (APOEL win 2-1 on aggregate after extra time)
Petrocub were unfortunate to have lost the first leg considering APOEL only had one shot on target that was not from their penalty kick.
However, considering Petrocub's poor discipline last time out, it would not be surprising to see them reduced to 10 players at some point in Tuesday's clash, and this could affect their chances of progressing.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
