Partizan Belgrade must overturn first leg result
It’s really starting to heat up in the qualifying phase for the Europa League. Now the second legs in the 3rd round are on the agenda. Some matches promise a lot of excitement, including the match in Belgrade.
In the run-up to the match between Partizan Belgrade and AEK Larnaca, the odds show that the hosts are favourites going into the match. Just how dangerous the team from Cyprus can be was already proven in the first leg, which the Serbs lost away from home.
The match in Serbia can be very interesting. The pressure is more on the hosts, because AEK Larnaca only need a draw to progress to the next round.
Partizan Belgrade – Statistics & current form
Partizan Belgrade are looking to progress into the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. The Serbians have to survive the second leg against AEK Larnaca. In the first leg, Partizan showed some weaknesses, did not play particularly well, but kept the result within bounds with 1:2 in the end. Overall, it can be said that there are still some question marks surrounding the hosts.
After all, Partizan Belgrade have now failed to win four matches in a row. The team won the first league match, then only two points from three games and the first leg defeat in Cyprus. Partizan must now quickly find good form and improve, otherwise the dream of the group stage will end already in the 3rd qualifying round.
There were also a few changes in the squad in the summer. Not everything seems homogeneous yet, key players are missing and in terms of systematics, the team changed a lot at the beginning, apart from the back four. The finding phase still seems to be going on, which could be a problem if it is not completed quickly.
Partizan Belgrade: Last season very good in all areas
The hosts’ start to the season is so not in keeping with their performances last season. Back then, in fact, Partizan Belgrade delivered well, which can be seen very well in the season-long statistics. The Serbians lost only one of their last 15 competitive matches, but after the start of the season they are in no-man’s land in the league table.
In 2021/22, they made it to the last 16 in the Conference League before losing to Feyenoord, who later reached the final. In the domestic league, Partizan survived the entire season with only one defeat, which the club already has to its credit. All in all, the Serbs definitely imagined a different start to the season.
Nevertheless, the “Grobari” have a better squad than the guests from Cyprus. Therefore, in the run-up to the match between Partizan Belgrade and AEK Larnaca, our prediction is that the hosts will win the game. Whether it will be a clear victory that will be enough to advance after 90 minutes remains to be seen.
Predicted line-up of Partizan Belgrade:
Popovic – Filipovic, Vujacic, Markovic, Urosevic – Fejsa, Natcho, Andrade, Menig, Diabate – Pavlovic
Last matches played by Partizan Belgrade:
Europa League Qualification
04/08/2022 – AEK Larnaca 2 – 1 Partizan Belgrade
1st Division
29/07/2022 – Novi Pazar 1 – 0 Partizan Belgrade
24/07/2022 – Partizan Belgrade 0 – 0 TSC Backa Topola
16/07/2022 – Radnicki Nis 3 – 3 Partizan Belgrade
10/07/2022 – Javor 0 – 4 Partizan Belgrade
AEK Larnaca – Statistics & current form
Even though the league has not yet started in Cyprus, AEK Larnaca already attracted attention under coach José Luis Oltra. In the Champions League qualifiers, the Cypriots lost to Midtjylland, but the Danes had to go all the way to the penalty shootout. The team could now maintain its status as an unpleasant opponent.
Ahead of the second leg at Partizan Belgrade, the visitors go into the game as underdogs and the bookmakers don’t seem to have too much confidence in Larnaca, but the pressure to score is on the Serbs for now. AEK can retreat, play defensively and ensure compactness with the 4-2-3-1 system. These are exactly the elements needed to succeed in an away match against such an opponent.
The Cypriots’ record reads very well over the course of the season. They have only lost one of their last six matches, none of them after 90 minutes of play, but only in a penalty shoot-out. Meanwhile, they have only lost two of their last twelve matches. Stability, then, is one of the virtues Larnaca exemplify.
Offensively, AEK Larnaca sometimes need to catch up
During last season’s regular season in Cyprus, however, it is noticeable that AEK’s offence sometimes failed to live up to its billing. 31 goals in 22 games were not catastrophic, but just not a good yield either. Things will have to change in the new season, because in the championship round there were seven games (out of ten) in which less than two goals were scored.
However, the offensive approaches in the current season have been good. In every match involving the visitors, both teams scored. For this reason, before the decisive match between Partizan Belgrade and AEK Larnaca, our value tip is that both teams will score as well. Bookmaker Bet-at-home, which Wettbasis has tested extensively, offers odds of 1.87.
Predicted line-up of AEK Larnaca:
Piric – Casas, Tomovic, Milicevic, Garcia – Sanjurjo, Espinosa, Siathas, Faraj, Bruno Gama – Trickovski
Last matches played by AEK Larnaca:
Europa League Qualification
04/08/2022 – AEK Larnaca 2 – 1 Partizan Belgrade
Champions League Qualifier
26/07/2022 – AEK Larnaca (3)1 – 1(4) FC Midtjylland
20/07/2022 – FC Midtjylland 1 – 1 AEK Larnaca
Club friendlies
02/07/2022 – Rapid Vienna 2 – 3 AEK Larnaca
1st League Championship Grp.
22/05/2022 – Apollon Limassol 0 – 1 AEK Larnaca
Partizan Belgrade – AEK Larnaca Direct Comparison / H2H Record
The first leg, which the Cypriots won, was the first direct meeting between these two teams.
Partizan Belgrade – AEK Larnaca Tip
Partizan Belgrade have the individual advantage on their side. However, that is no guarantee for success, as the first leg showed. The Cypriots are unpleasant to play against and have qualities.
Often, even under pressure, the quality of a better team prevails. Therefore, before the match between Partizan Belgrade and AEK Larnaca, our tip is that the hosts will win.
