By Nemanja Bjedov
ALTHOUGH Omonia host Anorthosis in the Round 14 opener on Saturday afternoon at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia at 3pm, the most interesting game of the day, at least according to the current standings, will be the clash between Ermis Aradippou and Apollon Limassol that will kick-off thee hours later.
“This game will be very different than the one at the beginning of the season but we are aiming for all three points, as we always do.
“Ermis are well organised defensively and we must respond to that with a quality and passionate team effort if we plan to achieve our goal,” stated Apollon coach Christakis Christoforou, whose side celebrated a narrow 1-0 victory over the Aradippou side in the season opener.
Christoforou will not be able to count on his skipper Giorgos Merkis as well as Marios Stylianou, who are both suspended, while several players are doubtful and will be given late fitness tests.
“The game against Ermis is our seventh game in the last 27 days and after this game we will have some time to rest properly and return to action with a clear mind.
“We are pleased that after 23 games played so far, both in Europe and locally, we have managed to get to the top of the league. Our main objective is to reach one of the spots that lead to Europe next season and that is what we will focus on,” Christoforou concluded.
Apollon are currently second overall with 30 points, behind their city rivals AEL on an inferior head-to-head record, while Ermis are third with 26 points. Anorthosis are fifth also with 26 points, while Omonia are seventh with 24.
After Monday night’s 2-0 defeat to arch-rivals APOEL, Omonia’s board decided to make a coaching change with Pambos Christodoulou succeeding Toni Savevski.
His debut on the bench will be against another ex-AEL coach in Jorge Costa who is now at helm of the Ammochostos side.
Also on Saturday afternoon, at 5pm, Aris take on Alki in Limassol.
On Sunday afternoon at 3pm, champions APOEL visit Enosis Neon Paralimni, while two hours later AEK Larnaca host AEK Kouklion, while at 6pm league leaders AEL face Ethnikos Achnas at the Tsirion Stadium in Limassol.
In the final game of Round 14, on Monday evening at 7pm, Nea Salamina meet Doxa Katokopia at the Ammochostos Stadium in Larnaca.
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