Lazio – Apollon SOCCER PICKS
Lazio and Apollon meet at Stadio Olimpico, in a match for this phase of the UEFA Europa League (Group Stage). There is no record of direct confrontations between these two teams in the last 3 years. The last showdown was played on 07-11-2013 and ended with the score: Lazio (2-1) Apollon. In this game the home factor may be decisive, since the Apollon presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor.
Lazio:
The home team will make its debut in this edition of the competition, since it did not have to play any of the eliminatory games prior to this group stage. This is a team that usually maintains its competitive level in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 6 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses in away matches; against 7 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses at their stadium. In the last match they played, for Serie A, they beat Empoli out by (0-1). In the last 10 home matches Lazio has won 6, tied 2 and lost 2. Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 7 of the last 10 matches.
Lazio is a club that never managed to win the Europa League, but was already a finalist defeated in 1997/98, in addition to having won two Serie A titles (Italian Championship). In the last season, the team reached the quarterfinals of the Europa League, being eliminated by the RB Salzburg, by 5-6 (in the aggregate result), and finished the Italian championship in the fifth position, which earned him the qualification for the Europa League. In the last six games that Lazio played in their stadium in this competition in the last season, Lazio managed to score more than 1.5 goals in four games. We believe that in this match, by playing at home and against a weaker opponent, Lazio will again score two goals or more.
Apollon:
The visiting team won access to this group stage after eliminating Basel in the previous round, with a home victory by (1-0) and a loss by (3-2). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 4 wins, 1 draw and 10 losses in away matches, with 16 goals scored and 24 conceded; against 15 victories in its stadium, with 48 goals scored and 8 suffered. The team comes to this match after a home victory over Paphos by (5-1). In the last 4 UEFA Champions League matches they played against, Apollon won 1 and lost 3. Their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 6 of the last 8 matches for this competition. In the last 5 home matches for all competitions there is 1 period that stands out: they have conceded 4 of their 6 goals between minutes (76′-90 ‘).
Apollon Limassol is a club from Cyprus that has already won the 1. Division (Cyprus Championship) three times, the last one in 2005/06, and in the last season it was the runner-up, which earned him the qualification for the rounds Previews of the Europa League of 2018/19. In addition to these titles, the club has also won nine Cyprus Cups and two Cyprus Super Cups, the last of which was won in the last season. We believe that, despite being a reference club in his country, the Apollon will find many difficulties to face Lazio, in addition to playing in Rome, in the opponent’s field. It is very likely that he will be defeated and may even suffer more than one goal in this game.
