FC Basel 1893 vs Apoel Nicosia Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 25/02/2020, 04:02  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 26/02/2020 at 18:31 in Europa League Predictions

As Basel prepares to host APOEL Nicosia in the return leg of the second round Europa League clash this Thursday, the tie has all the writings of a settled game after Basel’s 3-0 away win. APOEL were blown away by the 66th minute and going by their away run, this is going to be very tough to overturn. Basel have not done so well in their domestic assignments, winning just two and drawing three of their last six matches. It hasn’t been the same story in Europe; they have won five of their seven matches in Europa League so far and head to this clash with two straight clean sheets, having scored five goals in the process. Basel won each of their three group-stage matches at home, scoring two or more goals. They have five straight home wins in Europa League and are unbeaten in eight, with six wins. They have four clean sheets in the last six home matches in Europa League.

On the other hand, APOEL have just been poor; they have one win and three losses in their last five matches. In the last five matches they have failed to score in four and have no clean sheet in the last four. APOEL have conceded an average three goals per game in their last three matches, a run of form they wouldn’t want to take to Switzerland. Their away days have not been any rosier, with APOEL winning just one of the last nine across all competitions. They have failed to score in seven of those and kept just three clean sheets. They managed three wins at the group stages and these came back to back before the shocker by Basel. Their real concern will however be in their away form in this competition, having lost six of their last nine. They have however avoided defeat in the last two away matches in the competition, with a draw against Qarabag and a win over F91 Dudelange.