Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
Dnipro and Apollon square off against each other at Kosicka futbalova arena in the Conference League round 5. Dnipro have been performing above expectations in Group E, and, as a result, they are on the right track to book their place in the knockout stages. Both Valeriy Luckhevych and Emiliano Purita are sidelined with injuries, while there are no suspended players in the home team.
The Cypriotes, on the other hand, did well to shock AZ Alkmaar in their last group game, with the team keeping their last 32 hopes alive, but seeing that they are not regarded as good travellers, we are tempted to put our money on Valeriy Gorodov’s charges. Haitam Aleesami has overcome his injury, but all Ba, Malekkidis, and Peybernes remain on the sidelines with injuries for the away team.
Highlighted Player (Recio):
Recio is a Spanish footballer who was born in Malaga on January 11, 1991. Recio is a product of his home-town club Malaga and he has been playing for los Boquerones at senior level since 2010. The right-footed midfielder spent the 2013/2014 La Liga season on loan at Granada and he returned to Malaga at the end of the campaign.
It has to be noted that he scored four goals in 45 appearances for los Granadinos in the Spanish top flight. Recio made only 18 appearances for Malaga in La Liga in the 2016/2017 season, scoring three goals in the process, while providing two assists for his teammates.
Speaking of his international career, the midfielder made his debut with Spain U21 team on March 24, 2011 in a friendly against France. To make things even better for him, Recio represented Spain at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia later that year, making four appearances for La Roja at the showpiece tournament. Recio’s main position is central midfield, but he is capable of playing a defensive midfielder as well.
Highlighted Team (Apollon):
Apollon are a Cypriot football club based in Limassol. The Kianolefki wear blue shirts and dark blue shorts when playing at home ground and they welcome their rivals at Tsirion Stadium. The venue can hold up to 13.331 spectators and it was opened in 1975.
Apollon Limassol won their first domestic trophy in the 1990/1991 season, with the team finishing the campaign three points clear of second-placed Anorthosis Famagusta. The Kianolefki won their second Cypriot First Division trophy three years later (1993/1994) and they had to wait 12 years before they clinched their third and last domestic title (2005/2006).
Speaking of the Cypriot cup, Apollon Limassol won their ninth trophy in the competition in 2017, with the team beating APOEL in the title game. The club was founded back in April 14, 1954 and it has to be noted that they suffered a loss in each of their eight games in their debut season in the second division.