You'll find few teams riding a hotter streak in European football than Fiorentina as they pack their bags for Cyprus. The warriors from Florence will lock horns with a stumbling APOEL Nicosia side at the GSP Stadium this Thursday, and we expect a show.
That said, will Fiorentina win this encounter, and what are the best markets to cover?
How the bookies view it: Fiorentina heavy favourites
Fiorentina enter this match as clear favourites with odds of 7/10 on offer. Their impressive run of eight victories in their last nine matches across all competitions makes a compelling case for the bookmakers' confidence, too. However, it’s a very different story for APOEL Nicosia. The hosts are struggling domestically, and they are all the way down in 26th place in the UEFA Conference League.
With those factors taken into account, the bookies have priced them at 4/1 to beat the high-flying Italians, which seems fair.
Head-to-head: The very first meeting
This marks the first competitive meeting between these two sides in European competition. However, both teams have European pedigree, even if they are at slightly different levels. Specifically, APOEL Nicosia is Cyprus's most decorated club and Fiorentina have reached the latter stages of this tournament in recent campaigns. And once the referee blows the whistle on Thursday night, we believe Fiorentina will have a 1-0 record against the hosts.
Players to watch: Moise Kean and Youssef El-Arabi
Moise Kean has found his groove in Florence, with his match-winner against Torino confirming he can ‘go clutch’ when needed. The young Italian striker's purple patch mirrors his team's resurgence under Palladino's guidance. And with 5 goals in 10 appearances across the board, he will be a real threat.
For APOEL Nicosia, we believe Youssef El-Arabi could help the hosts settle and attempt to grab something from this game. He brings a wealth of continental know-how, with 21 goals in European competitions to his name.
Predicted lineups
APOEL Nicosia are expected to field their strongest available XI for this one, and they will certainly need to. We believe the squad from their last game will remain largely unchanged, and former Germany international Max Meyer could return to the starting lineup.
There is a chance Fiorentina may rotate their squad with Sunday's Serie A fixture against Hellas Verona on the horizon. As for key player news – Albert Gudmundsson remains sidelined, while there are questions about the fitness of Danilo Cataldi and Marin Pongracic.
APOEL Nicosia possible starting lineup:
Belec; Chebake, Petrovic, Dvali, Susic; Abagna, Tejera; Marquinhos, Meyer, Donis; El Arabi
Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terracciano; Kayode, Moreno, Martinez Quarta, Biraghi; Adli, Mandragora; Ikone, Beltran, Sottil; Kouame
Anything else catch the eye?
The numbers paint a bleak picture for the visitors here. APOEL Nicosia have failed to score in 4 of their last 7 matches across all competitions, and Fiorentina isn’t a team that gives goals away for cheap!
Meanwhile, you’ve got to admire Fiorentina's recent flurry of goals both in this competition and domestically. Quite amazingly, they have scored 17 goals in their last 5 matches, and they have seven straight wins coming into this one.
So clearly, this is a side that's found its swagger at both ends of the pitch, and it’s been that way for over a month now.
This UEFA Europa League Conference match between Apoel Nicosia and Fiorentina will be played on Nov 7, 2024 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Apoel Nicosia vs Fiorentina prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
