Europa League Preview: AEK Larnaca -v- Dundalk

AEK LARNACA

AEK Larnaca host Dundalk in the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie in what are to be sweltering conditions on Thursday (kick-off 4.30pm Irish time).

Larnaca would have been pleased with the scoreless draw they achieved at Oriel Park last week but should be cautious of Dundalk’s impressive record of scoring away in European competition.

In Andoni Iraola’s first match in charge of Larnaca, the first leg finished scoreless with neither side creating any real clear-cut chances, leaving this second leg finely poised.

The Cypriot league doesn’t start until August 25th and Iraola has expressed concern over his side’s match sharpness, especially given the fact their Irish counterparts are already three-quarters through their season and have won their last eleven league fixtures, which set a new club record.

“They will try to score and make life as difficult as possible for qualifying,” said the former Athletic Bilbao and Spanish international right-back.

“For our part, we will try to gain an advantage and score. We know it is a dangerous team in the counter-attacks and we will try to attack and score.”

“It's an advantage for them because they’ve had a large number of official games already. But we have shown in Ireland that we are in good shape.

“Qualification is open, but if Dundalk scores, we will need more goals to get through and that is our goal.

“Scoring as many times as we can. It is a very important game for me, it is my first in the arena in an official match.

“It is very important for me but much more for the club and the fans. We should do well to qualify. We have players injured but I trust 100% the squad I have at my disposal.”

Larnaca are again likely to be without injured captain David Catala in addition to Marios Antoniades, Vladimir Boljevic, Vincent Laban and Florian Taulemesse, who all missed last week’s first leg.

DUNDALK

Dundalk are set to attack Larnaca from the off on Thursday in search of what would be a crucial away goal that would leave the Cypriot Cup-winners needing to score at least twice to progress.

The Lilywhites will not be fazed by the atmosphere at the AEK Arena but the temperatures could take their toll on Stephen Kenny’s side, even if the Dundalk manager slightly laughed off the notion.

“There’s a few clouds today,” quipped Kenny when asked about the weather at Wednesday’s press conference.

“They’re all challenges in their own right (European matches). The one thing is about adapting to the different tactical styles.

“Larnaca have their own style which has a major Spanish influence on their style of play. That’s something we have to adapt to and try and impose our own style of play on the game.

“We respect the opposition and their strengths but we have to express ourselves in a way that we can as a team and hopefully do ourselves justice tomorrow night.

“They're a very good technical team and they're very strong in possession and midfield. They have a big Spanish influence.

“There’s a feeling that the game is very evenly poised. Many people would feel that Larnaca are the favourites, now that the game is in Cyprus and they have home advantage.

“However, that’s not always the case. We see it as a very competitive game and we have to try and fulfil our potential tomorrow night.

“We can’t become preoccupied by their strengths. We’re a possession-based team the way AEK Larnaca are and it’s not our intention to sit off teams.”

One player that is definitely unavailable for Dundalk is Krisztian Adorjan, who has returned to Novara following the culmination of his six-month loan spell, it was also confirmed on Wednesday.

Long-term absentees Stephen O’Donnell and Stephen Folan haven’t travelled but Sean Gannon – who missed the first leg through injury – took part in Wednesday’s training session and could play.

Referee: Fran Jovic (Croatia)

MATCH FACTS

AEK Larnaca are no strangers to League of Ireland opposition after they beat Cork City home and away at the same stage of this competition last season.

This will be the 24^th time that Dundalk have played in Europe under the management of Stephen Kenny and, of those encounters, the Lilywhites have lost by more than a goal on just two occasions.

The AEK Arena in Larnaca will be the 11th European venue that the Lilywhites have travelled to under Kenny and Dundalk have scored in every one of the previous ten stadiums visited since 2014.

BETTING

AEK Larnaca 6/10; Draw 12/5; Dundalk 9/2.

PREDICTION

AEK Larnaca 1-1 Dundalk

AEK Larnaca

Injured: Marios Antoniades, Vladimir Boljevic, David Catala, Vincent Laban, Florian Taulemesse.

Doubtful: Daniel Mojsov.

Suspended: None.

Dundalk

Injured: Stephen Folan, Stephen O’Donnell.

Doubtful: Sean Gannon.

Suspended: None.