Experienced Zenit midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk has warned people back in St. Petersburg not to underestimate AEL when the two sides meet in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round this evening in Larnaca.
Zenit – who were on the end of a 2-1 defeat by APOEL the last time they flew to Cyprus back in 2011 – are the big favourites heading into the game at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. Andre Villas-Boas’ squad includes the likes of Brazilian forward Hulk, former Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavn as well as Belgian international Axel Witsel.
Despite their quality, experienced Ukrainian international Tymoshchuk – who has also played for Bayern Munich and Shakhtar Donetsk – is taking nothing for granted as they prepare to line up against the Limassol club tonight.
“There isn’t really anything special we can say about this game,” the 35-year-old told reporters in Russia. “The problem is when we fall into the trap of underestimating Cypriot football without taking into account how difficult it is to play there.”
AEL have never reached the group stage of the Champions League although they came close back in 2012 when they conceded two goals to Anderlecht in the final ten minutes to exit the playoffs and instead drop in the Europa League. Prior to their game against Anderlecht, they had also beaten Linfield of Northern Ireland and secured back-to-back wins over Serbian champions Partizan Belgrade.
HJK Helsinki will be looking to draw inspiration from the success of both Maribor and Zulte when they prepare to host APOEL this evening in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
While APOEL officials greeted the draw with cautious optimism, football followers in Helsinki also smelt blood after they were pitted against Giorgos Donis’ side.
APOEL were sent tumbling out of the Champions League at the same stage last summer after going out to Slovenian underdogs Maribor and followed up that disappointing by then losing to Zulte of Belgium. A
Players of note to be playing for Helsinki include former Auxerre and Tottenham midfielder and current skipper Teemu Tainio – now 34 – and former Chelsea player Michael Forsell while the main goal threat comes from Gambian striker Demba Savage.
The APOEL players spent most of yesterday walking around Helsinki and relaxing before undergoing a light training session at the 10,700-seater Sonera Stadium where the game will be played.
The two sides had met before in a European Champions Cup tie back in 1986 with APOEL advancing on the away goals rule.
Cyprus Weekly
