Preview:AEK Larnaca vs Celje - prediction, team news, lineups

A place in the Europa League’s third qualifying round will be on the line when AEK Larnaca welcome Celje to Cyprus this Thursday night.

Following a tightly contested 1-1 draw in the opening leg, the tie remains in the balance as both teams look to take a big step towards qualification.

Match preview

AEK Larnaca travelled to Slovenia last week and came away with a draw – a positive result for a team that will try to utilise home advantage in Thursday’s second leg.

While that may sound like a smart strategy on paper, it must be noted that the Yellow and Green have a poor home record in recent European games, picking up two wins from nine such fixtures.

The Cypriot outfit will be hoping to put that run behind them as they look to chase their first main draw qualification for a major European competition since the 2022-23 season.

On that occasion, AEK finished third in their Europa League group and progressed all the way to the Europa Conference League last 16 stage, where they were ultimately knocked out by West Ham United.

Imanol Idiakez and his men boast a lot of continental experience, and they will be looking to make the most of it in Thursday’s second leg.

Unlike their rivals, Celje have been busy balancing their European ambitions with domestic league duties.

The Counts, who are looking to qualify for the Europa League for the very first time, kicked off their campaign in the Slovenian league with successive wins – including a 2-0 victory over Radomlje last Sunday.

Buoyed by their domestic successes, Celje will now be hoping to secure their spot in the Europa League’s third qualifying round as they prepare for a trip to Larnaca.

The Slovenian side have won two of their last four European away games, including a 2-0 victory over Cypriot opposition APOEL during last season’s Europa Conference League campaign.

Celje, who reached the quarter-final of that competition before losing to Italian giants Fiorentina, will now be looking to break more ground on the continent with a win over AEK.

AEK Larnaca Europa League form:

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Celje Europa League form:

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Celje form (all competitions):

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Team News

AEK Larnaca have a couple of injury doubts ahead of Thursday’s encounter, with Enzo Cabrera suffering a recent muscle injury and Giorgos Naoum missing both legs against Partizan Belgrade in the first qualifying round.

Poland’s Karol Angielski and Spain’s Waldo Rubio are expected to spearhead the attack for the Yellow and Green.

Celje, meanwhile, remain without Armandas Kucys, who has been sidelined with a cruciate ligament tear and is not expected back until November.

Franko Kovacevic, who converted a penalty in the first leg, will be the main man to watch for the Slovenians, alongside fellow forwards Nikita Iosifov and Danijel Sturm.

AEK Larnaca possible starting lineup: Alomerovic; Ekpolo, Milicevic, Roberge, Garcia; Rohden, Gustavo; Pons, Chacon, Rubio; Angielski

Celje possible starting lineup: Leban; Nieto, Karnicnik, Vuklisevic, Tutyskinas; Kvesic, Zabukovnik; Kotnik, Iosifov, Sturm; Kovacevic