Cyprus’s most famous and supported club AC Omonia will look to take home advantage despite being tagged as the underdogs. Omonia finished last season 3rd behind APOEL and Anorthosis Famagusta, the former also participating in the UEFA Cup and the latter having the prestigious honour of being the first Cypriot representative in the Champions League Group Stage. Last season was somewhat a disrupted season as the employment and sacking of three managers meant off-the-pitch affairs gained a foothold in their league performances. A final position of 3rd was disastrous as they stuttered 20 points behind champions Anorthosis, contrasting to their European form as they shocked AEK Athens in a 3-2 triumph on aggregate.
Standout Player: Yiannis Okkas
A return to the winning front will be at the fore of Mark Hughes’ mind after Robinho’s debut against Chelsea deflated after his goal. Ending in a 3-1 defeat, Manchester City return to continental affairs after progressing through via the Russian Roulette system of penalties against Midtjylland of Denmark. Luckily for them they survived the second qualifying round scare and the mood has inevitably lifted since after becoming the world’s richest club in the ‘takeover of a lifetime’. The record signing barrier was broken twice in the summer months of July and August for initially Jo and then fellow Brazilian superstar Robinho and both are expected to feature. Hughes must weigh up whether to start fringe players in the hope they can produce a valuable away result and thereby rest key players, but in doing so could create their own enemy and risks a poor first leg result.
Standout Player: Elano
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