Basel vs Apollon (Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips) / 23.08.2018

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Basel vs Apollon Prediction & Betting tips

For FC Basel, only damage limitation is announced in the UEFA Europa League play-offs. A team that was in the last sixteen of the Champions League last year and even won 2-1 at Manchester City away there, will not want to resign to be represented at all 2018/2019 European. Another year in the premier class, the “Bebbi” have already frittered frivolous, because in the second qualifying round of the reigning Swiss runner lost after first and second leg clearly against PAOK Salonika. As a consolation prize at least to catch the entry into the group stage of the Europa League, the team of coach Marcel Koller must defend against the Cypriot club Apollon Limassol.

Last year’s second in the national First Division has already completed six qualifying matches and has won four of them. Away, however, the Cypriots were heavy and conceded two defeats. The goal of the guests must be on Thursday, as long as possible to keep the zero and achieve a good result in the foreign. As on the one hand the Baselers are far from being as stable as in their heyday and on the other hand Limassol is probably not as weak as the bookmakers estimate, in the duel of FC Basel against Apollon Limassol we were in favor of a tip less than 2.5 goals are scored, with very good odds. We deliberately keep the bet in the middle segment and risk four out of a possible ten units.

FC Basel:

FC Basel has caught again! That is probably the most important finding of the last weeks. The significant increase in form is irrevocably due to the change of coach. After a weak start to the season with only one point from two games in the Swiss Super League and the embarrassing elimination in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League against PAOK Saloniki (1: 5 after the first leg), the officials were forced to the Pull ripcord and dismiss Raphael Wicky. With Marcel Koller, a renowned and experienced coach was presented as successor, who immediately turned on the right screws.

Under his leadership FCB celebrated five wins in five games so far. Were the appearances in the Super League of many goals, but also conceded marked, presented the “Bebbi” in the Europa League much more disciplined, but at the same time less risk-taking. In the third qualifying round, Vitesse Arnhem was defeated 1-0 at home and away. These two results are an important reason why we chose betting odds on Under 2.5 on Thursday between FC Basel and Apollon Limassol. The Red-Blue are clearly favored at home in St. Jakob Park – but not so clear that odds to 1.36 for a simple home win value offer. Limassol will act defensively and make life difficult for FCB as long as possible. Therefore, we do not believe in a runaway victory, especially since the Swiss have to prove first, that they are now so stable again to do the role of favorites sovereign. Even though Marek Suchy’s defender and captain will be out injured, Koller’s strengthened defense should be able to hold on to zero, especially as the Europa League places more emphasis here than in the Super League, for example.

Apollon Limassol:

That Apollon Limassol is anything but a simple opponent is shown by the fact that the Cypriots were able to qualify successfully for the group stage last year. At that time, Apollon won in the playoffs against FC Midtjylland, although they actually acted as outsiders. For the coming two Thursdays, this underdog role may certainly be a little bigger, but no one should make the mistake and underestimate the team of coach Sofronis Avgousti. The reigning vice-champion of the Cypriot First Division already has a real mammoth program behind him.

Already in the first round Limassol had to defend against Stumbras. It was followed by duels with Zeljeznicar Sarajevo and Dinamo Brest. Overall, the record in four wins and two defeats from six matches. Conspicuous: Both bankruptcies conceded the three-time national champion (most recently in 2006) abroad – both times with 0: 1. In general, the three away games were not characterized by much spectacle. While at the mentioned matches in Brest and at FC Stumbras (each 0: 1) bet on Under 2.5 goals without problems would have gone well in the 2-1 away win in Sarajevo also not much was missing. However, two hits fell in the final stages (80. – 90.), so that in total there is a tendency to see how the Avgousti-Elf approaches their games in the distance. Minimizing the mistakes and destroying the opposing football are in the foreground of the idea, which is why we expect a few goals in the first leg on Thursday.