Dnipro-1 vs AEK Larnaca Match Analysis & Prediction
23/02/2023 8:45 pm
Dnipro-1 and AEK Larnaca will meet in Slovakia on Thursday in the second leg of their Europa Conference League knockout-round playoff tie.
AEK make the trip with a narrow 1-0 lead after going ahead late in their home leg, with Dnipro-1 unable to host the second leg on home soil.
After Ukrainian domestic football was put on hold in November, last week saw Dnipro-1 return to competitive action for the first time since, as they travelled to face AEK Larnaca to fight for a spot in the final 16 of the Europa Conference League.
Oleksandr Kucher’s side are at this stage after finishing second in their group in the Conference League, having dropped out of Europa League qualifying in August, with AEK Larnaca coming out as 5-1 winners over two legs.
They would then begin their group campaign with a defeat to AZ Alkmaar, but a positive run of form over the next four matches sealed a second-placed finish and a playoff spot.
Following a run of friendlies, Dnipro-1 travelled to Cyprus again for the first leg of their playoff tie last week, in their bid to avenge the defeat earlier in the campaign and get on the front foot in the fight for a round-of-16 spot. They looked set to see out a draw in a commendable fashion, only to concede late on in the game.
They meet an AEK Larnaca side who will aim to get the job done and secure a second aggregate win of the season over their Ukrainian opponents in continental action.
After the 5-1 victory over two legs in August, Larnaca progressed into the Europa League group stage, and despite managing to finish in the top two and advance, their tally of five points was enough to see them pip Dynamo Kiev to third place and secure their place in the Europa Conference League playoff round.
Jose Luis Oltra’s side entered last week’s home leg on the back of a lengthy unbeaten run to move to the top of the Cypriot First Division on 53 points from 23 matches, and after struggling to break the deadlock on home soil, they ultimately earned an important advantage in the tie through Angel’s 84th-minute goal.
Although they head into Thursday’s contest with a lead to defend, Larnaca may be slightly discouraged having seen their impressive domestic run of form ended at the weekend by a 2-1 defeat away at AEL limassol, cutting their lead at the top of the division to just a single point as a result.
However, having already enjoyed success against Dnipro-1 this season, Oltra’s side will hope to again have what it takes to get over the line and progress to the knockout stage.
Dnipro-1 vs. AEK Larnaca Head to head
These two sides have previously met on three occasions, with AEK Larnaca winning each of the matches, scoring six goals and conceding just one in the process.
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18/08/2022Dnipro-11AEK Larnaca2Europa League
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25/08/2022AEK Larnaca3Dnipro-10Europa League
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16/02/2023AEK Larnaca1Dnipro-10Europa Conference League
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23/02/2023N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
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23/02/2023Dnipro-1N/AAEK LarnacaN/AEuropa Conference League
Dnipro-1 Team News
Dnipro-1 should field an unchanged starting XI from last week, with Artem Dovbyk set to continue leading the line having scored a team-high tally of 16 goals this season, including five in the Conference League group stage.
He will be supported by Oleksandr Pikhalyonok, who has contributed seven goals and six assists from an advanced midfield role across league and continental action this season.
Dnipro-1's Last 5 Matches
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21/01/2023Dnipro-13Pyunik1Club Friendlies
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29/01/2023Dnipro-10Sutjeska0Club Friendlies
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02/02/2023Mura1Dnipro-12Club Friendlies
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07/02/2023Dnipro-15Auda1Club Friendlies
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16/02/2023AEK Larnaca1Dnipro-10Europa Conference League
AEK Larnaca Team News
AEK Larnaca will remain without top scorer Omri Altman, who has missed their last three league matches and last week’s first leg through injury, with Rafael Lopes again set to lead the line in his absence.
Imad Faraj and Marin Jakolis could continue to operate on the flanks, with key man Ivan Trickovski bound to complete the trio in support of the lone frontman.
AEK Larnaca's Last 5 Matches
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28/01/2023AEK Larnaca2APOEL11. Division
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04/02/2023Karmioissa1AEK Larnaca31. Division
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10/02/2023AEK Larnaca1Akritas11. Division
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16/02/2023AEK Larnaca1Dnipro-10Europa Conference League
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19/02/2023AEL1AEK Larnaca11. Division
Dnipro-1 vs. AEK Larnaca: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: AEK Larnaca or X
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