Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Basel
Match Time & Date:
23/08/2018
02:00 PM
Prediction: 2-0
Apollon
After failing to impress in the Champions League qualifiers, Basel will be looking to make amends for the unsuccessful campaign in the elite competition when they take on Apollon in the Europa League final qualifying round. The RotBlau did well to beat Vitesse of Netherlands in the previous round and they are seen as hot favourites to emerge triumphant in Thursday’s football game against the Cypriotes. It is well known that Basel are a real force to be reckoned with at home and seeing that they defeated the likes of Grasshopper and Sion in front of home fans at the start of the new Swiss Super League campaign, we are tempted to put our money on the hosts. Apollon were beaten by Dinamo in Brest in the Europa League third qualifying round, return leg, which is yet another reason why home win should be considered.
Highlighted Player (Silvan Widmer):
Silvan Widmer was born in Aarau, Switzerland on 5 March, 1993 and, as expected, he began his senior career at his home-town club Aarau. He made nine appearances for the reserve team in the 2010/2011 campaign and he played for the first team between 2011 and 2013, scoring 11 goals in 65 league appearances for the club.
The pacey right back, who is capable of playing as a right midfielder and a left back, signed a deal with Udinese in the summer of 2012, but he remained at Aarau until 2013. Silvan Widmer has 15 caps for Switzerland U21 team and he played for the U 19 side in the past as well, scoring three goals in eight appearances for the team.
He made his debut for the senior team on 31 March, 2015, in a 1-1 draw with USA in Zurich. Widmer came as a substitute to replace fellow Serie A footballer Lichtsteiner after 46 minutes. His contract with Udinese expires on 30 June, 2020.
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.
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