Apollon Limassol vs PSV Predictions

PSV can afford to rest a few key players for the 2nd leg if they wish after the Dutch side scored three without reply last week against Apollon, leaving the Cypriot side with plenty of work to do to turn this tie around on Thursday.

All of the stats suggest that we will see under 2.5 goals scored on Thursday night which will suit PSV right down to the ground as their hosts need to score at least three goals without reply to force this tie into extra time, and the chances are the Eredivisie side will keep things tight at the back and be more concerned with a clean sheet rather than scoring any goals against Apollon.

Apollon failed to score against PSV in the 1st leg and after winning 3-0 in the 1st Leg. PSV don’t need to score in Cyprus to progress, so we’re expecting a more introverted display form the visitors on Thursday based more around keeping a clean sheet rather than scoring goals, which will reduce the risk of Apollon scoring early and getting back into the tie.

The visitors’ recent defensive record and form over the last six weeks suggest that they have a great chance of stopping Apollon from scoring, as four of PSV’s last six matches have produced under 2.5 goals and the Dutch side have kept four clean sheets in their last five matches, against Apollon, Heracles, and Haugesund twice in the last qualifying round.

PSV are also unbeaten in their last six matches, despite having some key players missing for the majority of those matches, like Lozano who has become the clubs focal point in attack after the departure of leading goalscorer de Jong during the summer. PSV have drawn two of their last six matches, both of which produced under 2.5 goals, and we can see a similar result playing out on Thursday due to the hosts dominating display during the 1st leg.

We’re confident that under 2.5 goals will be scored on Thursday and have predicted a final scoreline of 0-0. PSV don’t need to score on Thursday and have an excellent defensive record, which we believe will come into play in Cyprus. The hosts have to take the game to their guests but they failed to score a single goal in the Netherlands, meaning that even an unlikely 3-0 win on Thursday will only be enough to take the game into extra time.