The Cypriot champions drew 0-0 in Nicosia with Slovan Bratislava, who continue to the Champions League playoffs thanks to their 2-0 win in the first leg.
The first half belonged almost entirely to the Cypriots, who had Youssef El Arabi in the starting lineup, not only because they had over 70% possession but also because they displayed aggression and creativity, in contrast to the Slovaks, who were limited to a passive role.
The hosts had a great opportunity in the 40th minute with Marquinhos, but they were unlucky as the ball hit the crossbar, and the teams went into the locker rooms at 0-0.
In the second half, Weiss’s players found a better rhythm, kept the ball, missed two significant chances, and since APOEL did not have the intensity of the first half, they managed the match, relying on their 2-0 advantage from the first leg for qualification.
The situation became even more difficult for APOEL, as in the 81st minute, Petrovic was sent off with a second yellow card, with the Slovaks comfortably maintaining the 0-0 and ultimately securing qualification for the Champions League playoffs, awaiting the winner of the Midtjylland-Ferencváros matchup.
The Cypriot champions will continue to the Europa League playoffs, waiting for the winner of the Santa Coloma-Riga pairing.
Notably, Tasos Doynis participated for the Cypriots and Kyriakos Savvidis for the Slovaks, both coming off the bench.
APOEL: Beletz, Susic (90+3’ Tsipriano), Petrovic, Dvali, Kintydia, Sembak (68’ T. Doynis), Sarfo (69’ Meyer), Konstantinov, Marquinhos (76’ Korb), Dongala (68’ Drazić), El Arabi
Coach: David Gajego
Slovan Bratislava: Takacs, Kasia, Vimer, Weiss (75’ Marcelli), Tolits, Bayiric, Strellets (75’ Barseghian), Zuberu, Vlakman, Kucska, Mak (85’ Savvidis)
Coach: Vladimir Weiss